Interleaved grouped word lines for three dimensional non-volatile storage

ABSTRACT

A three dimensional non-volatile storage system includes a substrate and a plurality of memory cells arranged in a monolithic three dimensional memory array (or other 3D structure) positioned above and not in the substrate. The system includes a plurality of vertical bit lines and a plurality of word lines. Each group of three neighboring word lines on a common level of the three dimensional memory array are electrically isolated from each other and at least a subset of the three neighboring word lines of each group are connected to other word lines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to technology for non-volatile storage.

Description of the Related Art

One example of non-volatile memory uses variable resistance memory elements that may be set to either low or high resistance states, and can remain in that state until subsequently re-set to the initial condition. The variable resistance memory elements are individually connected between two orthogonally extending conductors (typically bit and word lines) where they cross each other in a two-dimensional array. The state of such a memory element is typically changed by proper voltages being placed on the intersecting conductors. Since these voltages are necessarily also applied to a large number of other unselected memory elements because they are connected along the same conductors as the selected memory elements being programmed or read, diodes are commonly connected in series with the variable resistive elements in order to reduce leakage currents that can flow through them. The desire to perform data reading and programming operations with a large number of memory elements in parallel results in reading or programming voltages being applied to a very large number of other memory elements. An example of an array of variable resistive elements and associated diodes is given in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2009/0001344.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an equivalent circuit of a portion of an example three-dimensional array of variable resistance memory elements, wherein the array has vertical bit lines.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a re-programmable non-volatile memory system which utilizes the memory array of FIG. 1, and which indicates connection of the memory system with a host system.

FIG. 3 provides plan views of the two planes and substrate of the three-dimensional array of FIG. 1, with some structure added.

FIG. 4 is an expanded view of a portion of one of the planes of FIG. 3, annotated to show effects of programming data therein.

FIG. 5 is an expanded view of a portion of one of the planes of FIG. 3, annotated to show effects of reading data therefrom.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a portion of the three-dimensional array shown in FIG. 1 according to a first specific example of an implementation thereof.

FIG. 7 is an equivalent circuit of a portion of an example three-dimensional array of variable resistance memory elements, wherein the array has vertical bit lines and a pillar select layer, both of which are above (and not in) the substrate.

FIG. 8A is a schematic that depicts a vertical bit line, a vertical select device and a global bit line.

FIG. 8B is a plan view that depicts a vertical bit line, a vertical select device and a global bit line.

FIG. 9 is a schematic of a portion of the memory system, depicting vertical bit lines above the substrate, vertical select devices above the substrate and row select line drivers in the substrate.

FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a memory structure with vertical local bit lines above the substrate and vertical select devices above the substrate that connect the bit lines to global bit lines.

FIG. 11 is a schematic of a portion of the memory system, depicting vertical bit lines and vertical select devices above the substrate.

FIG. 12 is a schematic of a portion of the memory system, depicting vertical bit lines, vertical select devices above the substrate and row select line drivers in the substrate.

FIG. 13 is a schematic of a portion of the memory system, depicting vertical bit lines, vertical select devices above the substrate and word line combs (connected word lines).

FIG. 14 is a top view of two word line combs and multiple vertical bit lines.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are flow charts describing embodiments for mono the memory system.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart describing one embodiment for reading the memory system.

FIG. 17 depicts a memory element.

FIG. 18 is a graph of current versus voltage for a memory element, and is used to explain SET and RESET.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart describing one embodiment of a process for FORMING.

FIG. 20 illustrates one embodiment of a memory structure with vertical local bit lines above the substrate and vertical select devices with shared gates above the substrate that connect the bit lines to global bit lines.

FIG. 21 illustrates one embodiment of a memory structure with vertical local bit lines above the substrate and vertical select devices with shared gates above the substrate that connect the bit lines to global bit lines.

FIG. 22 illustrates one embodiment of a memory structure with vertical local bit lines above the substrate and vertical select devices with shared gates above the substrate that connect the bit lines to global bit lines.

FIG. 23 illustrates one embodiment of a memory structure with vertical local bit lines above the substrate and vertical select devices with shared gates above the substrate that connect the bit lines to global bit lines.

FIG. 24 is a top view of three word line combs and multiple vertical bit lines.

FIG. 25 is a top view of two word line combs and locations for a third word line comb.

FIG. 26 is a top view of three word line combs and multiple vertical bit lines.

FIG. 27 is a side view of connections to a third word line comb.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some three dimensional memory architecture use vertical bit lines and vertical select devices (e.g., thin film transistor) to select the vertical bit lines. The gate electrode of these vertical select devices need to fit as compactly as possible into the overall structure. To allow for the unambiguous selection of the appropriate vertical bit line it is proposed that groups of word lines be connected together, in what is referred to below as word line combs (or other structures). It is proposed that “triple comb” architecture be used that interleaves three word line combs on a given level of the memory. An example structure includes a substrate, a plurality of memory cells arranged in a monolithic three dimensional memory array positioned above and not in the substrate, a plurality of word lines connected to the memory cells, a plurality of word line drivers, a plurality of global bit lines, a plurality of vertical bit lines connected to the array of memory cells, and a plurality of vertical select devices that are above (but not in the substrate) and that are connected to the vertical bit lines and the global bit lines. When the vertical select devices are actuated the vertical bit lines are in communication with the global bit lines. The vertical select devices comprise a transistor that includes a gate electrode that is shared by two neighboring vertical select devices. The word lines form multiple groups of connected word lines. On a common level of the three dimensional structure at least three groups of connected word lines are interleaved so that a set of three consecutive word lines are in different groups of connected word lines and the different groups of connected word lines each have multiple connected word lines on the common level of the three dimensional structure. At least one word line driver connected to each group of connected word lines.

The memory elements used in the three-dimensional array are preferably (but are not required to be) variable resistance memory elements. That is, the resistance (and thus inversely the conductance) of the individual memory elements is typically changed as a result of a voltage placed across the orthogonally intersecting conductors to which the memory element is connected. Depending on the type of variable resistive element, the state may change in response to a voltage across it, a level of current though it, an amount of electric field across it, a level of heat applied to it, an external magnetic field, and the like. With some variable resistive element material, it is the amount of time that the voltage, current, electric field, heat and the like is applied to the element that determines when its conductive state changes and the direction in which the change takes place. In between such state changing operations, the resistance of the memory element remains unchanged, so is non-volatile. The three-dimensional array architecture summarized above may be implemented with a memory element material selected from a wide variety of such materials having different properties and operating characteristics.

The resistance of the memory element, and thus its detectable storage state, can be repetitively set from an initial level to another level and then re-set back to the initial level. For some materials, the amount or duration of the voltage, current, electric field, heat and the like applied to change its state in one direction is different (asymmetrical) with that applied to change in another direction. With two detectable states, each memory element stores one-bit of data. With the use of some materials, more than one bit of data may be stored in each memory element by designating more than two stable levels of resistance as detectable states of the memory element. The three-dimensional array architecture herein is quite versatile in the way it may be operated.

This three-dimensional architecture also allows limiting the extent and number of unaddressed (non-selected) resistive memory elements across which an undesired level of voltage is applied during reading and programming operations conducted on other addressed (selected) memory elements. The risk of disturbing the states of unaddressed memory elements and the levels of leakage current passing through unaddressed elements may be significantly reduced from those experienced in other arrays using the same memory element material. Leakage currents are undesirable because they can alter the apparent currents being read from addressed memory elements, thereby making it difficult to accurately read the states of addressed (selected) memory elements. Leakage currents are also undesirable because they add to the overall power draw by an array and therefore undesirably causes the power supply to have to be made larger than is desirable. Because of the relatively small extent of unaddressed memory elements that have voltages applied during programming and reading of addressed memory elements, the array with the three-dimensional architecture herein may be made to include a much larger number of addressed memory elements without introducing errors in reading and exceeding reasonable power supply capabilities.

In addition, the three-dimensional architecture herein allows variable resistance memory elements to be connected at orthogonal crossings of bit and word line conductors without the need for diodes or other non-linear elements being connected in series with the variable resistive elements. In existing arrays of variable resistance memory elements, a diode is commonly connected in series with each memory element in order to reduce the leakage current though the element when it is unselected but nevertheless has a voltage difference placed across it, such as can occur when the unselected memory element is connected to a bit or word line carrying voltages to selected memory elements connected to those same lines. The absence of the need for diodes significantly reduces the complexity of the array and thus the number of processing steps required to manufacture it. The terms connected and coupled refers to direct and indirect connections/couplings.

Indeed, the manufacture of the three-dimensional array of memory elements herein is much simpler than other three-dimensional arrays using the same type of memory elements. In particular, a fewer number of masks is required to form the elements of each plane of the array. The total number of processing steps needed to form integrated circuits with the three-dimensional array are thus reduced, as is the cost of the resulting integrated circuit.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, an architecture of one example embodiment of a three-dimensional memory 10 is schematically and generally illustrated in the form of an equivalent circuit of a portion of such a memory. A standard three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system 11 is used for reference, the directions of each of vectors x, y and z being orthogonal with the other two. In another embodiment direction x and x are substantially 60 degrees from each other.

A circuit for selectively connecting internal memory elements with external data circuits is preferably formed using select devices Q_(xy), where x gives a relative position of the device in the x-direction and y its relative position in the y-direction. The individual select devices Q_(xy) may be a select gate or select transistor, as examples. Global bit lines (GBL_(x)) are elongated in the y-direction and have relative positions in the x-direction that are indicated by the subscript. The global bit lines (GBL_(x)) are individually connectable with the source or drain of the select devices Q_(xy) having the same position in the x-direction, although during reading and also typically programming only one select device connected with a specific global bit line is turned on at time. The other of the source or drain of the individual select devices Q_(xy) is connected with one of the local bit lines (LBL_(xy)). The local bit lines are elongated vertically, in the z-direction, and form a regular two-dimensional array in the x (row) and y (column) directions.

In order to connect one set (in this example, designated as one row) of local bit lines with corresponding global bit lines, row select lines SG_(y) are elongated in the x-direction and connect with control terminals (gates) of a single row of select devices Q_(xy) having a common position in the y-direction. The select devices Q_(xy) therefore connect one row of local bit lines (LBL_(xy)) across the x-direction (having the same position in the y-direction) at a time to corresponding ones of the global bit-lines (GBL_(x)), depending upon which of the row select lines SG_(y) receives a voltage that turns on the select devices to which it is connected. The remaining row select lines receive voltages that keep their connected select devices Q_(xy) off. It may be noted that since only one select device (Q_(xy)) is used with each of the local bit lines (LBL_(xy)), the pitch of the array across the semiconductor substrate in both x and y-directions may be made very small, and thus the density of the memory storage elements large.

Memory elements M_(zxy) are formed in a plurality of planes positioned at different distances in the z-direction above the substrate 13. Two planes 1 and 2 are illustrated in FIG. 1 but there will typically be more, such as 4, 6, 8, 16, 32, or even more. In each plane at distance z, word lines WL_(zy) are elongated in the x-direction and spaced apart in the y-direction between the local bit-lines (LBL_(xy)). The word lines WL_(zy) of each plane individually cross adjacent two of the local bit-lines LBL_(xy) on either side of the word lines. The individual memory storage elements M_(zxy) are connected between one local bit line LBL_(xy) and one word line WL_(zy) adjacent these individual crossings. An individual memory element M_(zxy) is therefore addressable by placing proper voltages on the local bit line LBL_(xy) and word line WL_(zy) between which the memory element is connected. The voltages are chosen to provide the electrical stimulus necessary to cause the state of the memory element to change from an existing state to the desired new state. The levels, duration and other characteristics of these voltages depend upon the material that is used for the memory elements.

Each “plane” of the three-dimensional memory structure is typically formed of at least two layers, one in which the conductive word lines WL_(zy) are positioned and another of a dielectric material that electrically isolates the planes from each other. Additional layers may also be present in each plane, depending for example on the structure of the memory elements M_(zxy). The planes are stacked on top of each other above a semiconductor substrate with the local bit lines LBL_(xy) being connected with storage elements M_(zxy) of each plane through which the local bit lines extend.

The memory arrays described herein, including memory 10, are examples of monolithic three dimensional memory structures. A monolithic three dimensional memory structure is one in which multiple memory levels are formed above (and not in) a single substrate, such as a wafer, with no intervening substrates and active areas of the memory are disposed above the substrate. The layers forming one memory level are deposited or grown directly over the layers of an existing level or levels. In contrast, stacked memories have been constructed by forming memory levels on separate substrates and adhering the memory levels atop each other, as in Leedy, U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,167, “Three Dimensional Structure Memory.” The substrates may be thinned or removed from the memory levels before bonding, but as the memory levels are initially formed over separate substrates, such memories are not true monolithic three dimensional memory structures or monolithic three dimensional memory arrays.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an illustrative memory system that can use the three-dimensional memory 10 of FIG. 1. Data input-output circuits 21 are connected to provide (during programming) and receive (during reading) analog electrical quantities in parallel over the global bit-lines GBL_(x) of FIG. 1 that are representative of data stored in addressed memory elements M_(zxy). Data input-output circuits 21 typically contain sense amplifiers for converting these electrical quantities into digital data values during reading, which digital values are then conveyed over lines 23 to a memory system controller 25. Conversely, data to be programmed into the array 10 are sent by the controller 25 to the input-output circuits 21, which then programs that data into addressed memory element by placing proper voltages on the global bit lines GBL_(x). For binary operation, one voltage level is typically placed on a global bit line to represent a binary “1” and another voltage level to represent a binary “0”. The memory elements are addressed for reading or programming by voltages placed on the word lines WL_(zy) and row select lines SG_(y) by respective word line select circuits 27 and local bit line circuits 29. In the specific three-dimensional array of FIG. 1, the memory elements lying between a selected word line and any of the local bit lines LBL_(xy) connected at one instance through the select devices Q_(xy) to the global bit lines GBL_(x) may be addressed for programming or reading by appropriate voltages being applied through the select circuits 27 and 29.

Controller 25 typically receives data from and sends data to a host system 31. Controller 25 usually contains an amount of random-access-memory (RAM) 34 for temporarily storing such data and operating information. Commands, status signals and addresses of data being read or programmed are also exchanged between the controller 25 and host 31. The memory system operates with a wide variety of host systems. They include personal computers (PCs), laptop and other portable computers, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital still cameras, digital movie cameras and portable audio players. The host typically includes a built-in receptacle 33 for one or more types of memory cards or flash drives that accepts a mating memory system plug 35 of the memory system but some hosts require the use of adapters into which a memory card is plugged, and others require the use of cables therebetween. Alternatively, the memory system may be built into the host system as an integral part thereof.

Controller 25 conveys to decoder/driver circuits 37 commands received from the host 31. Similarly, status signals generated by the memory system are communicated to the controller 25 from decoder/driver circuits 37. The circuits 37 can be simple logic circuits in the case where the controller controls nearly all of the memory operations, or can include a state machine to control at least some of the repetitive memory operations necessary to carry out given commands. Control signals resulting from decoding commands are applied from the circuits 37 to the word line select circuits 27, local bit line select circuits 29 and data input-output circuits 21. Also connected to the circuits 27 and 29 are address lines 39 from the controller that carry physical addresses of memory elements to be accessed within the array 10 in order to carry out a command from the host. The physical addresses correspond to logical addresses received from the host system 31, the conversion being made by the controller 25 and/or the decoder/driver 37. As a result, the local bit line select circuits 29 partially address the designated storage elements within the array 10 by placing proper voltages on the control elements of the select devices Q_(xy) to connect selected local bit lines (LBL_(xy)) with the global bit lines (GBL_(x)). The addressing is completed by the circuits 27 applying proper voltages to the word lines WL_(zy) of the array. In one embodiment, any one or combination of Controller 25, decoder/driver circuits 37, circuits 21, 27 and 29, or other control logic can be referred to as one or more control circuits.

Although the memory system of FIG. 2 utilizes the three-dimensional memory array 10 of FIG. 1, the system is not limited to use of only that array architecture. A given memory system may alternatively combine this type of memory with other another type including flash memory, such as flash memory having a NAND memory cell array architecture, a magnetic disk drive or some other type of memory. The other type of memory may have its own controller or may in some cases share the controller 25 with the three-dimensional memory cell array 10, particularly if there is some compatibility between the two types of memory at an operational level.

Although each of the memory elements M_(zxy) in the array of FIG. 1 may be individually addressed for changing its state according to incoming data or for reading its existing storage state, it is certainly preferable to program and read the array in units of multiple memory elements in parallel. In the three-dimensional array of FIG. 1, one row of memory elements on one plane may be programmed and read in parallel. The number of memory elements operated in parallel depends on the number of memory elements connected to the selected word line. In some arrays, the word lines may be segmented (not shown in FIG. 1) so that only a portion of the total number of memory elements connected along their length may be addressed for parallel operation, namely the memory elements connected to a selected one of the segments. In some arrays the number of memory elements programmed in one operation may be less than the total number of memory elements connected to the selected word line to minimize IR drops, to minimize power, or for other reasons.

Previously programmed memory elements whose data have become obsolete may be addressed and re-programmed from the states in which they were previously programmed. The states of the memory elements being re-programmed in parallel will therefore most often have different starting states among them. This is acceptable for many memory element materials but it is usually preferred to re-set a group of memory elements to a common state before they are re-programmed. For this purpose, the memory elements may be grouped into blocks, where the memory elements of each block are simultaneously reset to a common state, preferably one of the programmed states, in preparation for subsequently programming them. If the memory element material being used is characterized by changing from a first to a second state in significantly less time than it takes to be changed from the second state back to the first state, then the reset operation is preferably chosen to cause the transition taking the longer time to be made. The programming is then done faster than resetting. The longer reset time is usually not a problem since resetting blocks of memory elements containing nothing but obsolete data is typically accomplished in a high percentage of the cases in the background, therefore not adversely impacting the programming performance of the memory system.

With the use of block re-setting of memory elements, a three-dimensional array of variable resistive memory elements may be operated in a manner similar to current flash memory arrays. Resetting a block of memory elements to a common state corresponds to erasing a block of flash memory elements to an erased state. The individual blocks of memory elements herein may be further divided into a plurality of pages of storage elements, wherein the memory elements of a page are programmed and read together. This is like the use of pages in flash memories. The memory elements of an individual page are programmed and read together. Of course, when programming, those memory elements that are to store data that are represented by the reset state are not changed from the reset state. Those of the memory elements of a page that need to be changed to another state in order to represent the data being stored in them have their states changed by the programming operation.

An example of use of such blocks and pages is illustrated in FIG. 3, which provides plan schematic views of planes 1 and 2 of the array of FIG. 1. The different word lines WL_(zy) that extend across each of the planes and the local bit lines LBL_(xy) that extend through the planes are shown in two-dimensions. Individual blocks are made up of memory elements connected to both sides of one word line, or one segment of a word line if the word lines are segmented, in a single one of the planes. There are therefore a very large number of such blocks in each plane of the array. In the block illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the memory elements M₁₁₄, M₁₂₄, M₁₃₄, M₁₁₅, M₁₂₅ and M₁₃₅ connected to both sides of one word line WL₁₂ form the block. Of course, there will be many more memory elements connected along the length of a word line but only a few of them are illustrated, for simplicity. The memory elements of each block are connected between the single word line and different ones of the local bit lines, namely, for the block illustrated in FIG. 3, between the word line WL₁₂ and respective local bit lines LBL₁₂, LBL₂₂, LBL₃₂, LBL₁₃, LBL₂₃ and LBL₃₃.

A page is also illustrated in FIG. 3. In the specific embodiment being described, there are two pages per block. One page is formed by the memory elements along one side of the word line of the block and the other page by the memory elements along the opposite side of the word line. The example page marked in FIG. 3 is formed by memory elements M₁₁₄, M₁₂₄ and M₁₃₄. Of course, a page will typically have a very large number of memory elements in order to be able to program and read a large amount of data at one time. Only a few of the storage elements of the page of FIG. 3 are included, for simplicity in explanation.

Example resetting, programming and reading operations of the memory array of FIGS. 1 and 3, when operated as array 10 in the memory system of FIG. 2, will now be described. For these examples, each of the memory elements M_(zxy) is taken to include a non-volatile memory material that can be switched between two stable states of different resistance levels by impressing voltages (or currents) of different polarity across the memory element, or voltages of the same polarity but different magnitudes and/or duration. For example, one class of material may be placed into a high resistance state by passing current in one direction through the element, and into a low resistance state by passing current in the other direction through the element. Or, in the case of switching using the same voltage polarity, one element may need a higher voltage and a shorter time to switch to a high resistance state and a lower voltage and a longer time to switch to a lower resistance state. These are the two memory states of the individual memory elements that indicate storage of one bit of data, which is either a “0” or a “1,” depending upon the memory element state.

To reset (e.g., erase) a block of memory elements, the memory elements in that block are placed into their high resistance state. This state will be designated as the logical data state “1,” following the convention used in current flash memory arrays but it could alternatively be designated to be a “0.” As shown by the example in FIG. 3, a block includes all the memory elements that are electrically connected to one word line WL or segment thereof. A block is the smallest unit of memory elements in the array that are reset together. It can include thousands of memory elements. If a row of memory elements on one side of a word line includes 1000 of them, for example, a block will have 2000 memory elements from the two rows on either side of the word line.

The following steps may be taken to reset all the memory elements of a block, using the block illustrated in FIG. 3 as an example:

-   -   1. Set all of the global bit lines (GBL₁, GBL₂ and GBL₃ in the         array of FIGS. 1 and 3) to zero volts, by the circuits 21 of         FIG. 2.     -   2. Set at least the two row select lines on either side of the         one word line of the block to H′ volts, so that the local bit         lines on each side of the word line in the y-direction are         connected to their respective global bit lines through their         select devices and therefore brought to zero volts. The voltage         H′ is made high enough to turn on the select devices Q_(xy), for         example, something in a range of 1-6 volts, typically 3 volts.         The block shown in FIG. 3 includes the word line WL₁₂, so the         row select lines SG₂ and SG₃ (FIG. 1) on either side of that         word line are set to H′ volts, by the circuits 29 of FIG. 2, in         order to turn on the select devices Q₁₂, Q₂₂, Q₃₂, Q₁₃, Q₂₃ and         Q₃₃. This causes each of the local bit lines LBL₁₂, LBL₂₂,         LBL₃₂, LBL₁₃, LBL₂₃ and LBL₃₃ in two adjacent rows extending in         the x-direction to be connected to respective ones of the global         bit lines GBL1, GBL2 and GBL3. Two of the local bit lines         adjacent to each other in the y-direction are connected to a         single global bit line. Those local bit lines are then set to         the zero volts of the global bit lines. The remaining local bit         lines preferably remain unconnected and with their voltages         floating.     -   3. Set the word line of the block being reset to H volts. This         reset voltage value is dependent on the switching material in         the memory element and can be between a fraction of a volt to a         few volts. All other word lines of the array, including the         other word lines of selected plane 1 and all the word lines on         the other unselected planes, are set to zero volts. In the array         of FIGS. 1 and 3, word line WL₁₂ is placed at H volts, while all         other word lines in the array are placed at zero volts, all by         the circuits 27 of FIG. 2.

The result is that H volts are placed across each of the memory elements of the block. In the example block of FIG. 3, this includes the memory elements M₁₁₄, M₁₂₄, M₁₃₄, M₁₁₅, M₁₂₅ and M₁₃₅. For the type of memory material being used as an example, the resulting currents through these memory elements places any of them not already in a high resistance state, into that re-set state.

It may be noted that no stray currents will flow because only one word line has a non-zero voltage. The voltage on the one word line of the block can cause current to flow to ground only through the memory elements of the block. There is also nothing that can drive any of the unselected and electrically floating local bit lines to H volts, so no voltage difference will exist across any other memory elements of the array outside of the block. Therefore no voltages are applied across unselected memory elements in other blocks that can cause them to be inadvertently disturbed or reset.

It may also be noted that multiple blocks may be concurrently reset by setting any combination of word lines and the adjacent select gates to H or H′ respectively. In this case, the only penalty for doing so is an increase in the amount of current that is required to simultaneously reset an increased number of memory elements. This affects the size of the power supply that is required. In some embodiments, less than all memory elements of a block will be simultaneously reset.

The memory elements of a page are preferably programmed concurrently, in order to increase the parallelism of the memory system operation. An expanded version of the page indicated in FIG. 3 is provided in FIG. 4, with annotations added to illustrate a programming operation. The individual memory elements of the page are initially in their reset state because all the memory elements of its block have previously been reset. The reset state is taken herein to represent a logical data “1.” For any of these memory elements to store a logical data “0” in accordance with incoming data being programmed into the page, those memory elements are switched into their low resistance state, their set state, while the remaining memory elements of the page remain in the reset state.

For programming a page, only one row of select devices is turned on, resulting in only one row of local bit lines being connected to the global bit lines. This connection alternatively allows the memory elements of both pages of the block to be programmed in two sequential programming cycles, which then makes the number of memory elements in the reset and programming units equal.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an example programming operation within the indicated one page of memory elements M₁₁₄, M₁₂₄ and M₁₃₄ is described, as follows:

-   -   1. The voltages placed on the global bit lines are in accordance         with the pattern of data received by the memory system for         programming. In the example of FIG. 4, GBL₁ carries logical data         bit “1”, GBL₂ the logical bit “0” and GBL₃ the logical bit “1.”         The bit lines are set respectively to corresponding voltages M,         H and M, as shown, where the M level voltage is high but not         sufficient to program a memory element and the H level is high         enough to force a memory element into the programmed state. The         M level voltage may be about one-half of the H level voltage,         between zero volts and H. For example, a M level can be 0.7         volt, and a H level can be 1.5 volt. The H level used for         programming is not necessary the same as the H level used for         resetting or reading. In this case, according to the received         data, memory elements M₁₁₄ and M₁₃₄ are to remain in their reset         state, while memory element M₁₂₄ is being programmed. Therefore,         the programming voltages are applied only to memory element M₁₂₄         of this page by the following steps.     -   2. Set the word line of the page being programmed to 0 volts, in         this case selected word line WL₁₂. This is the only word line to         which the memory elements of the page are connected. Each of the         other word lines on all planes is set to the M level. These word         line voltages are applied by the circuits 27 of FIG. 2.     -   3. Set one of the row select lines below and on either side of         the selected word line to the H′ voltage level, in order to         select a page for programming. For the page indicated in FIGS. 3         and 4, the H′ voltage is placed on row select line SG₂ in order         to turn on select devices Q₁₂, Q₂₂ and Q₃₂ (FIG. 1). All other         row select lines, namely lines SG₁ and SG₃ in this example, are         set to 0 volts in order to keep their select devices off. The         row select line voltages are applied by the circuits 29 of         FIG. 2. This connects one row of local bit lines to the global         bit lines and leaves all other local bit lines floating. In this         example, the row of local bit lines LBL₁₂, LBL₂₂ and LBL₃₂ are         connected to the respective global bit lines GBL₁, GBL₂ and GBL₃         through the select devices that are turned on, while all other         local bit lines (LBLs) of the array are left floating.

The result of this operation, for the example memory element material mentioned above, is that a programming current I_(PROG) is sent through the memory element M₁₂₄, thereby causing that memory element to change from a reset state to a set (programmed) state. The same will occur with other memory elements (not shown) that are connected between the selected word line WL₁₂ and a local bit line (LBL) that has the programming voltage level H applied.

An example of the relative timing of applying the above-listed programming voltages is to initially set all the global bit lines (GBLs), the selected row select line (SG), the selected word line and two adjacent word lines on either side of the selected word line on the one page all to the voltage level M. After this, selected ones of the GBLs are raised to the voltage level H according to the data being programmed while simultaneously dropping the voltage of the selected word line to 0 volts for the duration of the programming cycle. The word lines in plane 1 other than the selected word line WL₁₂ and all word lines in the unselected other planes can be weakly driven to M, some lower voltage or allowed to float in order to reduce power that must be delivered by word line drivers that are part of the circuits 27 of FIG. 2.

By floating all the local bit lines other than the selected row (in this example, all but LBL₁₂, LBL₂₂ and LBL₃₂), voltages can be loosely coupled to outer word lines of the selected plane 1 and word lines of other planes that are allowed to float through memory elements in their low resistance state (programmed) that are connected between the floating local bit lines and adjacent word lines. These outer word lines of the selected plane and word lines in unselected planes, although allowed to float, may eventually be driven up to voltage level M through a combination of programmed memory elements.

There are typically parasitic currents present during the programming operation that can increase the currents that must be supplied through the selected word line and global bit lines. During programming there are two sources of parasitic currents, one to the adjacent page in a different block and another to the adjacent page in the same block. An example of the first is the parasitic current I_(P1) shown on FIG. 4 from the local bit line LBL₂₂ that has been raised to the voltage level H during programming. The memory element M₁₂₃ is connected between that voltage and the voltage level M on its word line WL₁₁. This voltage difference can cause the parasitic current −I_(P1) to flow. Since there is no such voltage difference between the local bit lines LBL₁₂ or LBL₃₂ and the word line WL₁₁, no such parasitic current flows through either of the memory elements M₁₁₃ or M₁₃₃, a result of these memory elements remaining in the reset state according to the data being programmed.

Other parasitic currents can similarly flow from the same local bit line LBL₂₂ to an adjacent word line in other planes. The presence of these currents may limit the number of planes that can be included in the memory system since the total current may increase with the number of planes. The limitation for programming is in the current capacity of the memory power supply, so the maximum number of planes is a tradeoff between the size of the power supply and the number of planes. A number of 4-16 planes may generally be used in most cases, but a different amount can also be used.

The other source of parasitic currents during programming is to an adjacent page in the same block. The local bit lines that are left floating (all but those connected to the row of memory elements being programmed) will tend to be driven to the voltage level M of unselected word lines through any programmed memory element on any plane. This in turn can cause parasitic currents to flow in the selected plane from these local bit lines at the M voltage level to the selected word line that is at zero volts. An example of this is given by the currents I_(P2), I_(P3) and I_(P4) shown in FIG. 4. In general, these currents will be much less than the other parasitic current I_(P1) discussed above, since these currents flow only through those memory elements in their conductive state that are adjacent to the selected word line in the selected plane.

The above-described programming techniques ensure that the selected page is programmed (local bit lines at H, selected word line at 0) and that adjacent unselected word lines are at M. As mentioned earlier, other unselected word lines can be weakly driven to M or initially driven to M and then left floating. Alternately, word lines in any plane distant from the selected word line (for example, more than 5 word lines away) can also be left uncharged (at ground) or floating because the parasitic currents flowing to them are so low as to be negligible compared to the identified parasitic currents since they must flow through a series combination of five or more ON devices (devices in their low resistance state). This can reduce the power dissipation caused by charging a large number of word lines.

While the above description assumes that each memory element of the page being programmed will reach its desired ON value with one application of a programming pulse, a program-verify technique commonly used in NOR or NAND flash memory technology may alternately be used. In this process, a complete programming operation for a given page includes of a series of individual programming operations in which a smaller change in ON resistance occurs within each program operation. Interspersed between each program operation is a verify (read) operation that determines whether an individual memory element has reached its desired programmed level of resistance or conductance consistent with the data being programmed in the memory element. The sequence of program/verify is terminated for each memory element as it is verified to reach the desired value of resistance or conductance. After all of memory elements being programmed are verified to have reached their desired programmed value, programming of the page of memory elements is then completed. An example of this technique is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,338.

With reference primarily to FIG. 5, the parallel reading of the states of a page of memory elements, such as the memory elements M₁₁₄, M₁₂₄ and M₁₃₄, is described. The steps of an example reading process are as follows:

-   -   1. Set all the global bit lines GBLs and all the word lines WL         to a voltage V_(R). The voltage V_(R) is simply a convenient         reference voltage and can be any number of values but will         typically be between 0 and 1 volt. In general, for operating         modes where repeated reads occur, it is convenient to set all         word lines in the array to V_(R) in order to reduce parasitic         read currents, even though this requires charging all the word         lines. However, as an alternative, it is only necessary to raise         the selected word line (WL₁₂ in FIG. 5), the word line in each         of the other planes that is in the same position as the selected         word line and the immediately adjacent word lines in all planes         to V_(R).     -   2. Turn on one row of select devices by placing a voltage on the         control line adjacent to the selected word line in order to         define the page to be read. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 5, a         voltage is applied to the row select line SG₂ in order to turn         on the select devices Q₁₂, Q₂₂ and Q₃₂. This connects one row of         local bit lines LBL₁₂, LBL₂₂ and LBL₃₂ to their respective         global bit lines GBL₁, GBL₂ and GBL₃. These local bit lines are         then connected to individual sense amplifiers (SA) that are         present in the circuits 21 of FIG. 2, and assume the potential         V_(R) of the global bit lines to which they are connected. All         other local bit lines LBLs are allowed to float.     -   3. Set the selected word line (WL₁₂) to a voltage of         V_(R)±Vsense. The sign of Vsense is chosen based on the sense         amplifier and has a magnitude of about 0.5 volt. The voltages on         all other word lines remain the same.     -   4. Sense current flowing into (V_(R)+Vsense) or out of         (V_(R)−Vsense) each sense amplifier for time T. These are the         currents I_(R1), I_(R2) and I_(R3) shown to be flowing through         the addressed memory elements of the example of FIG. 5, which         are proportional to the programmed states of the respective         memory elements M₁₁₄, M₁₂₄ and M₁₃₄. The states of the memory         elements M₁₁₄, M₁₂₄ and M₁₃₄ are then given by binary outputs of         the sense amplifiers within the circuits 21 that are connected         to the respective global bit lines GBL₁, GBL₂ and GBL₃. These         sense amplifier outputs are then sent over the lines 23 (FIG. 2)         to the controller 25, which then provides the read data to the         host 31.     -   5. Turn off the select devices (Q₁₂, Q₂₂ and Q₃₂) by removing         the voltage from the row select line (SG₂), in order to         disconnect the local bit lines from the global bit lines, and         return the selected word line (WL₁₂) to the voltage V_(R).

Parasitic currents during such a read operation have two undesirable effects. As with programming, parasitic currents place increased demands on the memory system power supply. In addition, it is possible for parasitic currents to exist that are erroneously included in the currents though the addressed memory elements that are being read. This can therefore lead to erroneous read results if such parasitic currents are large enough.

As in the programming case, all of the local bit lines except the selected row (LBL₁₂, LBL₂₂ and LBL₃₂ in the example of FIG. 5) are floating. But the potential of the floating local bit lines may be driven to V_(R) by any memory element that is in its programmed (low resistance) state and connected between a floating local bit line and a word line at V_(R), in any plane. A parasitic current comparable to I_(P1) in the programming case (FIG. 4) is not present during data read because both the selected local bit lines and the adjacent non-selected word lines are both at V_(R). Parasitic currents may flow, however, through low resistance memory elements connected between floating local bit lines and the selected word line. These are comparable to the currents I_(P2), I_(P3), and I_(P4) during programming (FIG. 4), indicated as IP₅, I_(P6) and IP₇ in FIG. 5. Each of these currents can be equal in magnitude to the maximum read current through an addressed memory element. However, these parasitic currents are flowing from the word lines at the voltage V_(R) to the selected word line at a voltage V_(R)±Vsense without flowing through the sense amplifiers. These parasitic currents will not flow through the selected local bit lines (LBL₁₂, LBL₂₂ and LBL₃₂ in FIG. 5) to which the sense amplifiers are connected. Although they contribute to power dissipation, these parasitic currents do not therefore introduce a sensing error.

Although the neighboring word lines should be at V_(R) to minimize parasitic currents, as in the programming case it may be desirable to weakly drive these word lines or even allow them to float. In one variation, the selected word line and the neighboring word lines can be pre-charged to V_(R) and then allowed to float. When the sense amplifier is energized, it may charge them to V_(R) so that the potential on these lines is accurately set by the reference voltage from the sense amplifier (as opposed to the reference voltage from the word line driver). This can occur before the selected word line is changed to V_(R)±Vsense but the sense amplifier current is not measured until this charging transient is completed.

Reference cells may also be included within the memory array 10 to facilitate any or all of the common data operations (erase, program, or read). A reference cell is a cell that is structurally as nearly identical to a data cell as possible in which the resistance is set to a particular value. They are useful to cancel or track resistance drift of data cells associated with temperature, process non-uniformities, repeated programming, time or other cell properties that may vary during operation of the memory. Typically they are set to have a resistance above the highest acceptable low resistance value of a memory element in one data state (such as the ON resistance) and below the lowest acceptable high resistance value of a memory element in another data state (such as the OFF resistance). Reference cells may be “global” to a plane or the entire array, or may be contained within each block or page.

In one embodiment, multiple reference cells may be contained within each page. The number of such cells may be only a few (less than 10), or may be up to a several percent of the total number of cells within each page. In this case, the reference cells are typically reset and written in a separate operation independent of the data within the page. For example, they may be set one time in the factory, or they may be set once or multiple times during operation of the memory array. During a reset operation described above, all of the global bit lines are set low, but this can be modified to only set the global bit lines associated with the memory elements being reset to a low value while the global bit lines associated with the reference cells are set to an intermediate value, thus inhibiting them from being reset. Alternately, to reset reference cells within a given block, the global bit lines associated with the reference cells are set to a low value while the global bit lines associated with the data cells are set to an intermediate value. During programming, this process is reversed and the global bit lines associated with the reference cells are raised to a high value to set the reference cells to a desired ON resistance while the memory elements remain in the reset state. Typically the programming voltages or times will be changed to program reference cells to a higher ON resistance than when programming memory elements.

If, for example, the number of reference cells in each page is chosen to be 1% of the number of data storage memory elements, then they may be physically arranged along each word line such that each reference cell is separated from its neighbor by 100 data cells, and the sense amplifier associated with reading the reference cell can share its reference information with the intervening sense amplifiers reading data. Reference cells can be used during programming to ensure the data is programmed with sufficient margin. Further information regarding the use of reference cells within a page can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,222,762, 6,538,922, 6,678,192 and 7,237,074.

In a particular embodiment, reference cells may be used to approximately cancel parasitic currents in the array. In this case the value of the resistance of the reference cell(s) is set to that of the reset state rather than a value between the reset state and a data state as described earlier. The current in each reference cell can be measured by its associated sense amplifier and this current subtracted from neighboring data cells. In this case, the reference cell is approximating the parasitic currents flowing in a region of the memory array that tracks and is similar to the parasitic currents flowing in that region of the array during a data operation. This correction can be applied in a two step operation (measure the parasitic current in the reference cells and subsequently subtract its value from that obtained during a data operation) or simultaneously with the data operation. One way in which simultaneous operation is possible is to use the reference cell to adjust the timing or reference levels of the adjacent data sense amplifiers. An example of this is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,324,393.

In conventional two-dimensional arrays of variable resistance memory elements, a diode is usually included in series with the memory element between the crossing bit and word lines. The primary purpose of the diodes is to reduce the number and magnitudes of parasitic currents during resetting (erasing), programming and reading the memory elements. A significant advantage of the three-dimensional array herein is that resulting parasitic currents are fewer and therefore have a reduced negative effect on operation of the array than in other types of arrays.

Diodes may also be connected in series with the individual memory elements of the three-dimensional array, as currently done in other arrays of variable resistive memory elements, in order to reduce further the number of parasitic currents but there are disadvantages in doing so. Primarily, the manufacturing process becomes more complicated. Added masks and added manufacturing steps are then necessary. Also, since formation of the silicon p-n diodes often requires at least one high temperature step, the word lines and local bit lines cannot then be made of metal having a low melting point, such as aluminum that is commonly used in integrated circuit manufacturing, because it may melt during the subsequent high temperature step. Use of a metal, or composite material including a metal, is preferred because of its higher conductivity than the conductively doped polysilicon material that is typically used for bit and word lines because of being exposed to such high temperatures. An example of an array of resistive switching memory elements having a diode formed as part of the individual memory elements is given in patent application publication no. US 2009/0001344 A1.

Because of the reduced number of parasitic currents in the three-dimensional array herein, the total magnitude of parasitic currents can be managed without the use of such diodes. In addition to the simpler manufacturing processes, the absence of the diodes allows bi-polar operation; that is, an operation in which the voltage polarity to switch the memory element from its first state to its second memory state is opposite of the voltage polarity to switch the memory element from its second to its first memory state. The advantage of the bi-polar operation over a unipolar operation (same polarity voltage is used to switch the memory element from its first to second memory state as from its second to first memory state) is the reduction of power to switch the memory element and an improvement in the reliability of the memory element. These advantages of the bi-polar operation are seen in memory elements in which formation and destruction of a conductive filament is the physical mechanism for switching, as in the memory elements made from metal oxides and solid electrolyte materials. For these reasons, the embodiments discussed below utilize memory elements that include resistance switching material and do not include a diode or other separate steering device. The use of memory elements that have a non-linear current vs voltage relationship are also envisioned. For example as the voltage across a HfOx memory element is reduced from the programming voltage to one half the programming voltage the current is reduced by a factor of 5 or even more. In such an embodiment the total magnitude of parasitic currents can be managed without the use of diodes in the array.

The level of parasitic currents increases with the number of planes and with the number of memory elements connected along the individual word lines within each plane. The increase in parasitic currents increases only slightly with additional planes because the selected word line is on only one plane such as WL12 in FIG. 4. Parasitic currents Ip1, Ip2, Ip3, and Ip4 are all on the plane that contains WL12. Leakage currents on other planes are less significant because the floating lines tend to minimize currents on elements not directly connected to the selected word line. Also since the number of unselected word lines on each plane does not significantly affect the amount of parasitic current, the planes may individually include a large number of word lines. The parasitic currents resulting from a large number of memory elements connected along the length of individual word lines can further be managed by segmenting the word lines into sections of fewer numbers of memory elements. Erasing, programming and reading operations are then performed on the memory elements connected along one segment of each word line instead of the total number of memory elements connected along the entire length of the word line.

The re-programmable non-volatile memory array being described herein has many advantages. The quantity of digital data that may be stored per unit of semiconductor substrate area is high. It may be manufactured with a lower cost per stored bit of data. Only a few masks are necessary for the entire stack of planes, rather than requiring a separate set of masks for each plane. The number of local bit line connections with the substrate is significantly reduced over other multi-plane structures that do not use the vertical local bit lines. The architecture eliminates the need for each memory element to have a diode in series with the resistive memory element, thereby further simplifying the manufacturing process and enabling the use of metal conductive lines. Also, the voltages necessary to operate the array are much lower than those used in current commercial flash memories.

Since at least one-half of each current path is vertical, the voltage drops present in large cross-point arrays are significantly reduced. The reduced length of the current path due to the shorter vertical component means that there are approximately one-half the number memory elements on each current path and thus the leakage currents are reduced as is the number of unselected memory elements disturbed during a data programming or read operation. For example, if there are N cells associated with a word line and N cells associated with a bit line of equal length in a conventional array, there are 2N cells associated or “touched” with every data operation. In the vertical local bit line architecture described herein, there are n cells associated with the bit line (n is the number of planes and is typically a small number such as 4 to 16), or N+n cells are associated with a data operation. For a large N this means that the number of cells affected by a data operation is approximately one-half as many as in a conventional three-dimensional array.

The material used for the non-volatile memory elements M_(zxy) in the array of FIG. 1 can be a chalcogenide, a metal oxide (MeOx), CMO, or any one of a number of materials that exhibit a stable, reversible shift in resistance in response to an external voltage applied to or current passed through the material.

Metal oxides (MeOx) are characterized by being insulating when initially deposited. One suitable metal oxide is a titanium oxide (TiO_(x)) in which near-stoichiometric TiO₂ bulk material is altered in an annealing process to create an oxygen deficient layer (or a layer with oxygen vacancies) in proximity of the bottom electrode. The top platinum electrode for memory storage element comprising TiO_(x), with its high work function, creates a high potential Pt/TiO₂ barrier for electrons. As a result, at moderate voltages (below one volt), a very low current will flow through the structure. The bottom Pt/TiO_(2-x) barrier is lowered by the presence of the oxygen vacancies (O⁺ ₂) and behaves as a low resistance contact (ohmic contact). (The oxygen vacancies in TiO₂ are known to act as n-type dopant, transforming the insulating oxide in an electrically conductive doped semiconductor.) The resulting composite structure is in a non-conductive (high resistance) state.

But when a large negative voltage (such as 1.5 volt) is applied across the structure, the oxygen vacancies drift toward the top electrode and, as a result, the potential barrier Pt/TiO₂ is reduced and a relatively high current can flow through the structure. The device is then in its low resistance (conductive) state. Experiments reported by others have shown that conduction is occurring in filament-like regions of the TiO₂, perhaps along grain boundaries.

The conductive path is broken by applying a large positive voltage across the structure. Under this positive bias, the oxygen vacancies move away from the proximity of the top Pt/TiO₂ barrier, and “break” the filament. The device returns to its high resistance state. Both of the conductive and non-conductive states are non-volatile. Sensing the conduction of the memory storage element by applying a voltage around 0.5 volts can easily determine the state of the memory element.

While this specific conduction mechanism may not apply to all metal oxides, as a group, they have a similar behavior: transition from a low conductive state to a high conductive occurs state when appropriate voltages are applied, and the two states are non-volatile. Examples of other materials that can be used for the non-volatile memory elements M_(zxy) in the array of FIG. 1 include HfOx, ZrOx, WOx, NiOx, CoOx, CoalOx, MnOx, ZnMn₂O₄, ZnOx, TaOx, NbOx, HfSiOx, HfAlOx. Suitable top electrodes include metals with a high work function (typically >4.5 eV) capable to getter oxygen in contact with the metal oxide to create oxygen vacancies at the contact. Some examples are TaCN, TiCN, Ru, RuO, Pt, Ti rich TiOx, TiAlN, TaAlN, TiSiN, TaSiN, IrO₂ and doped polysilicon. Suitable materials for the bottom electrode are any conducting oxygen rich material such as Ti(O)N, Ta(O)N, TiN and TaN. The thicknesses of the electrodes are typically 1 nm or greater. Thicknesses of the metal oxide are generally in the range of 2 nm to 20 nm.

One example non-volatile memory element uses Hafnium Oxide (e.g., HfO₂) as a reversible resistance-switching material, and positions the reversible resistance-switching material between two electrodes. A first electrode is positioned between reversible resistance-switching material and a first conductor (e.g. bit line or word line). In one embodiment, the first electrode is made of platinum. The second electrode is positioned between reversible resistance-switching material a second conductor (e.g, bit line or word line). In one embodiment, the second electrode is made of Titanium Nitride, and serves as a barrier layer. In another embodiment, the second electrode is n+ doped polysilicon and the first electrode is Titanium Nitride. Other materials can also be used. The technologies described below are not restricted to any one set of materials for forming the non-volatile memory elements.

In another embodiment, the memory storage element will include Hafnium Oxide (or different metal oxide or different material) as the reversible resistance-switching material, without any electrodes being positioned between the reversible resistance-switching material and the conductors (e.g., bit lines and/or word lines).

Another class of materials suitable for the memory storage elements is solid electrolytes but since they are electrically conductive when deposited, individual memory elements need to be formed and isolated from one another. Solid electrolytes are somewhat similar to the metal oxides, and the conduction mechanism is assumed to be the formation of a metallic filament between the top and bottom electrode. In this structure the filament is formed by dissolving ions from one electrode (the oxidizable electrode) into the body of the cell (the solid electrolyte). In one example, the solid electrolyte contains silver ions or copper ions, and the oxidizable electrode is preferably a metal intercalated in a transition metal sulfide or selenide material such as A_(x)(MB2)_(1-x), where A is Ag or Cu, B is S or Se, and M is a transition metal such as Ta, V, or Ti, and x ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.7. Such a composition minimizes oxidizing unwanted material into the solid electrolyte. One example of such a composition is Ag_(x)(TaS₂)_(1-x). Alternate composition materials include α-AgI. The other electrode (the indifferent or neutral electrode) should be a good electrical conductor while remaining insoluble in the solid electrolyte material. Examples include metals and compounds such as W, Ni, Mo, Pt, metal silicides, and the like.

Examples of solid electrolytes materials are: TaO, GeSe or GeS. Other systems suitable for use as solid electrolyte cells are: Cu/TaO/W, Ag/GeSe/W, Cu/GeSe/W, Cu/GeS/W, and Ag/GeS/W, where the first material is the oxidizable electrode, the middle material is the solid electrolyte, and the third material is the indifferent (neutral) electrode. Typical thicknesses of the solid electrolyte are between 30 nm and 100 nm.

In recent years, carbon has been extensively studied as a non-volatile memory material. As a non-volatile memory element, carbon is usually used in two forms, conductive (or grapheme like-carbon) and insulating (or amorphous carbon). The difference in the two types of carbon material is the content of the carbon chemical bonds, so called sp² and sp³ hybridizations. In the sp³ configuration, the carbon valence electrons are kept in strong covalent bonds and as a result the sp³ hybridization is non-conductive. Carbon films in which the sp³ configuration dominates, are commonly referred to as tetrahedral-amorphous carbon, or diamond like. In the sp² configuration, not all the carbon valence electrons are kept in covalent bonds. The weak tight electrons (phi bonds) contribute to the electrical conduction making the mostly sp² configuration a conductive carbon material. The operation of the carbon resistive switching nonvolatile memories is based on the fact that it is possible to transform the sp³ configuration to the sp² configuration by applying appropriate current (or voltage) pulses to the carbon structure. For example, when a very short (1-5 ns) high amplitude voltage pulse is applied across the material, the conductance is greatly reduced as the material sp² changes into an sp³ form (“reset” state). It has been theorized that the high local temperatures generated by this pulse causes disorder in the material and if the pulse is very short, the carbon “quenches” in an amorphous state (sp³ hybridization). On the other hand, when in the reset state, applying a lower voltage for a longer time (˜300 nsec) causes part of the material to change into the sp² form (“set” state). The carbon resistance switching non-volatile memory elements have a capacitor like configuration where the top and bottom electrodes are made of high temperature melting point metals like W, Pd, Pt and TaN.

There has been significant attention recently to the application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a non-volatile memory material. A (single walled) carbon nanotube is a hollow cylinder of carbon, typically a rolled and self-closing sheet one carbon atom thick, with a typical diameter of about 1-2 nm and a length hundreds of times greater. Such nanotubes can demonstrate very high conductivity, and various proposals have been made regarding compatibility with integrated circuit fabrication. It has been proposed to encapsulate “short” CNT's within an inert binder matrix to form a fabric of CNT's. These can be deposited on a silicon wafer using a spin-on or spray coating, and as applied the CNT's have a random orientation with respect to each other. When an electric field is applied across this fabric, the CNT's tend to flex or align themselves such that the conductivity of the fabric is changed. As in the other carbon based resistive switching non-volatile memories, the CNT based memories have capacitor-like configurations with top and bottom electrodes made of high melting point metals such as those mentioned above.

Yet another class of materials suitable for the memory storage elements is phase-change materials. A preferred group of phase-change materials includes chalcogenide glasses, often of a composition Ge_(x)Sb_(y)Te_(z), where preferably x=2, y=2 and z=5. GeSb has also been found to be useful. Other materials include AgInSbTe, GeTe, GaSb, BaSbTe, InSbTe and various other combinations of these basic elements. Thicknesses are generally in the range of 1 nm to 500 nm. The generally accepted explanation for the switching mechanism is that when a high energy pulse is applied for a very short time to cause a region of the material to melt, the material “quenches” in an amorphous state, which is a low conductive state. When a lower energy pulse is applied for a longer time such that the temperature remains above the crystallization temperature but below the melting temperature, the material crystallizes to form poly-crystal phases of high conductivity. These devices are often fabricated using sub-lithographic pillars, integrated with heater electrodes. Often the localized region undergoing the phase change may be designed to correspond to a transition over a step edge, or a region where the material crosses over a slot etched in a low thermal conductivity material. The contacting electrodes may be any high melting metal such as TiN, W, WN and TaN in thicknesses from 1 nm to 500 nm.

It will be noted that the memory materials in most of the foregoing examples utilize electrodes on either side thereof whose compositions are specifically selected. In embodiments of the three-dimensional memory array herein where the word lines (WL) and/or local bit lines (LBL) also form these electrodes by direct contact with the memory material, those lines are preferably made of the conductive materials described above. In embodiments using additional conductive segments for at least one of the two memory element electrodes, those segments are therefore made of the materials described above for the memory element electrodes.

Steering elements are commonly incorporated into controllable resistance types of memory storage elements. Steering elements can be a transistor or a diode. Although an advantage of the three-dimensional architecture described herein is that such steering elements are not necessary, there may be specific configurations where it is desirable to include steering elements. The diode can be a p-n junction (not necessarily of silicon), a metal/insulator/insulator/metal (MIIM), or a Schottky type metal/semiconductor contact but can alternately be a solid electrolyte element. A characteristic of this type of diode is that for correct operation in a memory array, it is necessary to be switched “on” and “off” during each address operation. Until the memory element is addressed, the diode is in the high resistance state (“off” state) and “shields” the resistive memory element from disturb voltages. To access a resistive memory element, three different operations are needed: a) convert the diode from high resistance to low resistance, b) program, read, or reset (erase) the memory element by application of appropriate voltages across or currents through the diode, and c) reset (erase) the diode. In some embodiments one or more of these operations can be combined into the same step. Resetting the diode may be accomplished by applying a reverse voltage to the memory element including a diode, which causes the diode filament to collapse and the diode to return to the high resistance state.

For simplicity the above description has consider the simplest case of storing one data value within each cell: each cell is either reset or set and holds one bit of data. However, the techniques of the present application are not limited to this simple case. By using various values of ON resistance and designing the sense amplifiers to be able to discriminate between several of such values, each memory element can hold multiple-bits of data in a multiple-level cell (MLC). The principles of such operation are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,338 referenced earlier. Examples of MLC technology applied to three dimensional arrays of memory elements include an article entitled “Multi-bit Memory Using Programmable Metallization Cell Technology” by Kozicki et al., Proceedings of the International Conference on Electronic Devices and Memory, Grenoble, France, Jun. 12-17, 2005, pp. 48-53 and “Time Discrete Voltage Sensing and Iterative Programming Control for a 4F2 Multilevel CBRAM” by Schrogmeier et al. (2007 Symposium on VLSI Circuits).

One example semiconductor structure for implementing the three-dimensional memory element array of FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 6, which is configured for use of non-volatile memory element (NVM) material that is non-conductive when first deposited. A metal oxide of the type discussed above has this characteristic. Since the material is initially non-conductive, there is no necessity to isolate the memory elements at the cross-points of the word and bit lines from each other. Several memory elements may be implemented by a single continuous layer of material, which in the case of FIG. 6 are strips of NVM material oriented vertically along opposite sides of the vertical bit lines in the y-direction and extending upwards through all the planes. A significant advantage of the structure of FIG. 6 is that all word lines and strips of insulation under them in a group of planes may be defined simultaneously by use of a single mask, thus greatly simplifying the manufacturing process.

Referring to FIG. 6, a small part of four planes 101, 103, 105 and 107 of the three-dimensional array are shown. Elements of the FIG. 6 array that correspond to those of the equivalent circuit of FIG. 1 are identified by the same reference numbers. It will be noted that FIG. 6 shows the two planes 1 and 2 of FIG. 1 plus two additional planes on top of them. All of the planes have the same horizontal pattern of conductor, dielectric and NVM material. In each plane, metal word lines (WL) are elongated in the x-direction and spaced apart in the y-direction. Each plane includes a layer of insulating dielectric that isolates its word lines from the word lines of the plane below it or, in the case of plane 101, of the substrate circuit components below it. Extending through each plane is a collection of metal local bit line (LBL) “pillars” elongated in the vertical z-direction and forming a regular array in the x-y direction.

Each bit line pillar is connected to one of a set of global bit lines (GBL) in the silicon substrate running in the y-direction at the same pitch as the pillar spacing through the select devices (Q_(xy)) formed in the substrate whose gates are driven by the row select lines (SG) elongated in the x-direction, which are also formed in the substrate. The select devices Q_(xy) may be conventional CMOS transistors (or vertical MOSFET thin film transistors, or Junction FET, or npn transistors) and fabricated using the same process as used to form the other conventional circuitry. In the case of using npn transistors instead of MOS transistors, the row select line (SG) lines are replaced with the base contact electrode lines elongated in the x-direction. Also fabricated in the substrate but not shown in FIG. 6 are sense amplifiers, input-output (I/O) circuitry, control circuitry, and any other necessary peripheral circuitry. There is one row select line (SG) for each row of local bit line pillars in the x-direction and one select device (Q) for each individual local bit line (LBL).

Each vertical strip of NVM material is sandwiched between the vertical local bit lines (LBL) and a plurality of word lines (WL) vertically stacked in all the planes. Preferably the NVM material is present between the local bit lines (LBL) in the x-direction. A memory storage element (M) is located at each intersection of a word line (WL) and a local bit line (LBL). In the case of a metal oxide described above for the memory storage element material, a small region of the NVM material between an intersecting local bit line (LBL) and word line (WL) is controllably alternated between conductive (set) and non-conductive (reset) states by appropriate voltages applied to the intersecting lines.

In one embodiment, the NVM material includes Hafnium Oxide, the word lines comprise TiN, and the bit lines comprise N+ silicon.

There may also be a parasitic NVM element formed between the LBL and the dielectric between planes. By choosing the thickness of the dielectric strips to be large compared to the thickness of the NVM material layer (that is, the spacing between the local bit lines and the word lines), a field caused by differing voltages between word lines in the same vertical word line stack can be made small enough so that the parasitic element never conducts a significant amount of current. Similarly, in other embodiments, the non-conducting NVM material may be left in place between adjacent local bit lines if the operating voltages between the adjacent LBLs remain below the programming threshold.

An outline of a process for fabricating the structure of FIG. 6 is as follows:

-   -   1. The support circuitry, including the select devices Q, global         bit lines GBL, row select lines SG and other circuits peripheral         to the array, is formed in the silicon substrate in a         conventional fashion and the top surface of this circuitry is         planarized, such as by etching with use of a layer of etch stop         material placed over the circuitry.     -   2. Alternating layers of dielectric (insulator) and metal are         formed as sheets on top of each other and over at least the area         of the substrate in which the select devices Q are formed. In         the example of FIG. 6, four such sheets are formed.     -   3. These sheets are then etched (isolated) by using a mask         formed over the top of them that has slits elongated in the         x-direction and spaced apart in the y-direction. All of the         material is removed down to the etch stop in order to form the         trenches shown in FIG. 6 in which the local bit line (LBL)         pillars and NVM material is later formed. Contact holes are also         etched through the etch stop material layer at the bottom of the         trenches to allow access to the drains of the select devices Q         at the positions of the subsequently formed pillars. The         formation of the trenches also defines the width in the         y-direction of the word lines (WL).     -   4. NVM material is deposited in thin layers along the sidewalls         of these trenches and across the structure above the trenches.         This leaves the NVM material along the opposing sidewalls of         each of the trenches and in contact with the word line (WL)         surfaces that are exposed into the trenches.     -   5. Doped poly silicon (or suitable metallic electrode material)         is then deposited in these trenches in order to make contact         with the NVM material. The deposited material is patterned using         a mask with slits in the y-direction. Removal of the deposited         material by etching through this mask leaves the local bit line         (LBL) pillars. The NVM material in the x-direction may also be         removed between pillars. The space between pillars in the         x-direction is then filled with a dielectric material and         planarized back to the top of the structure.

A significant advantage of the configuration of FIG. 6 is that only one etching operation through a single mask is required to form the trenches through all the layers of material of the planes at one time. However, process limitations may limit the number of planes that can be etched together in this manner. If the total thickness of all the layers is too great, the trench may need to be formed in sequential steps. A first number of layers are etched and, after a second number of layers have been formed on top of the first number of trenched layers, the top layers are subjected to a second etching step to form trenches in them that are aligned with the trenches in the bottom layers. This sequence may be repeated even more times for an implementation having a very large number of layers.

To enable the memory to be denser (e.g., more memory elements per area), the size of the memory elements can be made smaller and the memory elements can be arranged closer to each other than in the past. To enable the memory elements to be closer to each other, one embodiment uses a vertical select device (e.g., three terminal switch and/or select transistor) for connecting the individual local bit line pillars to the respective global bit lines. For example, the select devices Q₁₁, Q₁₂, . . . , Q₂₁, Q₂₂, . . . of FIG. 1 can be implemented as vertical select devices. In one embodiment, each vertical select device is a pillar select device that is formed as a vertical structure, switching between a local bit line pillar and a global bit line. The pillar select devices, unlike previous embodiments where they are formed within a CMOS layer, are in the present embodiments formed in a separate layer (pillar select layer) above the CMOS layer/substrate, along the z-direction between the array of global bit lines and the array of local bit lines. The CMOS layer is the substrate where the support circuitry is implemented, including the row select circuit and word line drivers. The use of vertical select devices above, but not in, the substrate allows the memory elements to be arranged in a more compact fashion, thereby increasing density. Additionally, positioning the vertical select devices above the substrate allows for other devices (e.g., the word line drivers) to be positioned in the substrate under the memory array rather than outside of the array, which allows the integrated circuit to be smaller.

For example, a pillar shaped Thin Film Transistor (TFT) FET or JFET can be can be used as the select device. In one example implementation, a control node of the select transistor has a collar shaped hole, and the gate and channel region are formed in the hole with the source/drain regions formed above/below the channel region. Another alternative is to define the gates as a rail etch and have the channel deposited in a trench between the gates and singulated by an etch with crossing lines mask (rather than holes).

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically the three dimensional memory (“3D memory”) comprising of a memory layer on top of a pillar select layer. The 3D memory 10 is formed on top of a CMOS substrate (not shown explicitly) where structures in the CMOS are referred to as being in the FEOL (“Front End of Lines”). The vertical select devices switching individual vertical bit lines (that are above and not in the substrate) to individual global bit lines are now formed on top of the FEOL layer in the BEOL (“Back End of Lines”). Thus, the BEOL comprises of the pillar select layer with the memory layer on top of it. The vertical select devices (such as Q₁₁, Q₁₂, . . . , Q₂₁, Q₂₂, . . . , etc) are formed in the pillar select layer as vertical select devices. The pillar select layer is formed above (and not in) the substrate. The memory layer is similar to that described above, comprising of multiple layers of word lines and memory elements. For simplicity, FIG. 7 shows only one layer of word lines, such as WL₁₀, W₁₁, . . . , etc. without showing the memory elements that exist between each crossing of a word line and a bit line.

FIG. 8A illustrates a schematic circuit diagram of a given vertical select device switching a local bit line to a global bit line. In the example, the local bit line LBL 440 is switchable to the global bit line GBL 250 by a vertical select transistor 500 such as Q₁₁. The gate of the select transistor Q₁₁ is controllable by a signal exerted on a row select line SG₁.

FIG. 8B illustrates the structure of the vertical select device in relation to the local bit line and the global bit line. The global bit line such as GBL 250 is formed below the vertical select device, in the FEOL as part of the metal layer-1 or metal layer-2 502. The vertical select device in the form of the vertical active TFT transistor 500 (e.g., vertical channel MOS TFT or vertical channel JFET) is formed in the BEOL layer on top of the GBL 250 (and above, but not in, the substrate). The local bit line LBL 440, in the form of a pillar, is formed on top of the vertical select device 500. In this way, the vertical select device 500 can switch the local bit line pillar LBL to the global bit line GBL.

FIG. 9 shows a portion of the memory system, with the memory elements being depicted as resistors (due to their reversible resistance switching properties). FIG. 9 shows the Pillar Select Layer below the Memory Layer and above (and not in) the Substrate. Only a portion of the Memory Layer is illustrated. For example, FIG. 9 shows bit lines LBL1, LBL2, . . . LBL72. In this embodiment each of the word lines are connected to 72 memory elements. Each of the memory elements is connected between a word line and a bit line. Therefore, there will be 72 memory elements connected to the same word line and different bit lines (of the 72 bit lines in a row). Each of the bit lines are connected to a respective global bit line by one of the vertical select devices 504 of the Pillar Select Layer. The signal SG_(x) driving the set of vertical select devices 504 depicted in FIG. 9 is controlled by the Row Select Line Driver. Note that the Row Select Line Driver is implemented in the substrate. The global bit lines (GBL1, GBL2, . . . GBL72) are implemented in the metal lines above the substrate. FIG. 9 shows one slice taken along the word line direction such that each of the bit lines depicted in FIG. 9 are connected to different global bit lines via the vertical select devices 504.

In one embodiment, pairs of neighboring word lines (e.g., WLa and WLb, WLp and WLq, WLr and WLs) will be connected to memory elements that are in turn connected to common bit lines. FIG. 9 shows three pairs of word lines (WLa and WLb, WLp and WLq, WLr and WLs), with each of the pair being on a different layer of the memory structure. In one illustrative embodiment, the word lines receive address dependent signals such a that word line WLb is selected for memory operation while word lines WLa, WLp, WLq, WLr and WLs are not selected. Although the enabling signal applied on row select line SGx causes all of the vertical select devices 504 to connect the respective global bit lines to the respective local bit lines of FIG. 9, only the global bit line GLBL1 includes a data value for programming (as noted by the S). Global bit lines GLBL2 and GLBL72 do not include data for programming (as noted by the U). This can be due to the data pattern being stored as the global bit lines receive data dependent signals. Note that while SGx receive an enable signal, other select lines receive a disable signal to turn off the connected select devices.

Because local bit line LBL 1 and word line WLb are both selected for programming, the memory element between local bit line LBL1 and word line WLb is selected for the memory operation (as noted by the S). Since local bit line LBL1 is the only bit line with program data, the other memory elements connected to WLb will be half selected (as noted by H). By half selected, it is meant that one of the control lines (either the bit line or the word line) is selected but the other control line is not selected. A half selected memory element will not undergo the memory operation. The word line WLa is not selected; therefore, the memory cell between WLa and local bit line LBL1 is half selected, and the other memory elements on WLa are unselected. Since word lines WLp, WLq, WLr and WLs are not selected, their memory elements connected to LBL1 are half selected and the other memory elements connected to those word lines are unselected.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a memory structure using the vertical select device discussed above and the memory structure of FIG. 6. As described below, the memory structure of FIG. 10 is a continuous mesh array of memory elements because there are memory elements connected to both sides of the bit lines and memory elements connected to both sides of the word lines. At the bottom of FIG. 10, the CMOS substrate is depicted. Implemented on the top surface of the CMOS structure are various metal lines including ML-0, ML-1, and ML-2. Line 526 of ML-2 serves as a respective global bit line (GBL). The Pillar Select Layer includes two oxide layers 520 with a gate material layer 522 sandwiched there between. The oxide layers 520 can be SiO₂. The metal line ML-2 526 serving as a global bit line can be implemented of any suitable material, including Tungsten, or Tungsten on a Titanium Nitride adhesion layer or a sandwich of n+ polysilicon on Tungsten on Titanium Nitride adhesion layer. Gate material 522 can be polysilicon, Titanium Nitride, Tantalum Nitride, Nickel Silicide or any other suitable material. Gate material 522 implements the row select lines SG_(x) (e.g. SG₁, SG₂, . . . of FIG. 1), which are labeled in FIG. 10 as row select lines 580, 582, 584, 586, 588 and 590.

The memory layer includes a set of vertical bit lines 530 (comprising N+ polysilicon). Interspersed between the vertical bit lines 530 are alternating oxide layers 534 and word line layers 536. In one embodiment, the word lines are made from TiN. Between the vertical bit lines 530 and the stacks of alternating oxide layers 536 and word line layers 536 are vertical layers of reversible resistance switching material 532. In one embodiment the reversible resistance switching material is made of Hafnium Oxide HfO₂. However, other materials (as described above) can also be used. Box 540 depicts one example memory element which includes the reversible resistance switching material 532 sandwiched between a word line 536 and vertical bit line 530. The memory elements are positioned above, and not in, the substrate. Directly below each vertical bit line 530 are the vertical select devices 504, each of which comprises (in one example embodiment) a n+/p−/n+ TFT. Each of the vertical select devices 504 have oxide layers 505 on each side. FIG. 10 also shows an n+ polysilicon layer 524. As can be seen, the npn TFT of vertical select devices 504 can be used to connect the global bit line GBL (layer 526) with any of the vertical bit lines 530.

FIG. 10 shows six row select lines (SG_(x)) 580, 582, 584, 586, 588 and 590 in the gate material layer 522, each underneath a stack of multiple word lines. As can be seen, each of the row select lines 580, 582, 584, 586, 588 and 590 is positioned between two vertical select devices 504, above and not in the substrate. Therefore each row select line can serve as the gate signal to either of the two neighboring vertical select devices 504; therefore, the row select lines serve as shared gates. In some embodiments, the vertical select devices 504 are said to be double gated because they are properly actuated by driving the “on” signal on the gates on both sides of the vertical select device. Each vertical select device 504 can be controlled by two different row select lines, in this embodiment. One aspect of the vertical select devices incorporated to the base portion of each bit line pillar is that two adjacent vertical select devices 504 share the same gate region. This allows the vertical select devices to be closer together.

FIG. 11 is a partial schematic of the memory system of FIG. 10 depicting the above-described double-gated structure for the vertical select devices 504. Planes 1 and 2 of FIG. 11 are the same as in FIG. 1. As can be seen, each local bit line LBL is connectable to a respective global bit line GBL by two row select signals. FIG. 11 shows two transistors connecting to each local bit line. For example, transistor Q₁₁ can connect local bit line LBL₁₁ to global bit line GBL₁ in response to row select line SG₁ and transistor Q_(11a) can connect local bit line LBL₁₁ to global bit line GBL₁ in response to row select line SG₂. The same structure is used for the other local bit lines depicted in FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 shows another partial schematic also depicting the double-gated structure such that each local bit line (LBL1, LBL2, . . . LBL72) are connected to their respective global bit lines (GBL1, GBL2, . . . GBL72) by any of two respective vertical select devices that are positioned above the CMOS substrate. As can be seen, while the double-gated structure of FIG. 10 includes positioning the various select devices 504 above the substrate, the Row Select Line Drivers providing the row select lines SG₁, SG₂, . . . are positioned in the substrate. Similarly, the global word lines (e.g., GWL) are position in a metal layer on the substrate and below the vertical select devices. Furthermore, as will be explained below, in one embodiment the Row Select Line Driver uses the appropriate global word line GWL as an input.

In prior designs, word line drivers were implemented in the substrate but outside the memory array (rather than underneath the memory array). To make the integrated circuit smaller, it is preferable to implement the word line drivers underneath the memory array. In some cases, a word line driver is as big in size as 16 word lines aggregated. Thus, the word line drivers have been too big to fit underneath the memory array. One proposed solution is to connect one word line driver to a group of multiple word lines connected together, where a memory system will have many of such groups. In one example implementation, 16 (or another number of) word lines will be connected together, and the connected group of word lines will be connected to a single word line driver. In one example, the 16 word lines are connected together to form a comb shape. However, other shapes can also be used. Using one word line driver to drive 16 (or a different number of) word lines in a single comb (or other shaped structure) reduces the number of word line drivers need. Therefore, the word line drivers can fit underneath the memory array. The use of the vertical select devices described above also provides more room underneath the memory array (e.g., in the substrate) in order to implement the word line drivers. Additionally, using one or more word line drivers to drive multiple word lines reduces the number of wires needed from the word line drivers to the word lines, thereby saving room, simplifying routing, reducing power and reducing the chance of a fault. Additionally, because the word lines and bit lines are now shorter, there is a smaller time constant than in previous designs. Because there is a smaller time constant, the lines will settle quicker and there is no significant transient effect that will cause a disturb for unselected memory elements.

FIG. 13 is a partial schematic depicting a portion of a memory system which uses the comb structure described above. For example, FIG. 13 shows combs 800, 802, 804 and 806. A memory system is likely to have many more combs than depicted in FIG. 13; however, FIG. 13 will only show four combs to make it easier to read. Each comb includes 16 word lines, also referred to as word line fingers. For each comb, a first set such as eight (e.g., half) of the word line fingers are on a first side of the comb and are in a first block while another set such as eight (e.g., half) of the word line fingers are on the second side of the comb and are in a second block that is next to the first block. FIG. 13 shows that combs 800 and 802 (and all of the attached word line fingers) are in a first plane or level of the memory array, and combs 804 and 806 (and all of the attached word line fingers) are on a second plane or level of the memory array. Each of the combs has a signal line to one word line driver. For example, word line comb 800 is connected to word line driver 820. When word line comb 800 is selected, all of the word line fingers connected to word line comb 800 are selected (e.g., receive the selected word line signal). Word line comb 802 is connected to word line driver 822. Word line comb 804 is connected to word line driver 824. Word line comb 806 is connected to word line driver 826. Word line drivers 820, 822, 824 and 826 are implemented underneath the memory array in the substrate. In one embodiment, a word line driver is located underneath the block (or one of the blocks) for which it is connected to.

FIG. 13 shows that word line comb 800 includes word line WL1 which is connected to memory elements that are in turn connected to local bit lines LB1, LB2, . . . LB72 (72 local bit lines). Word line comb 802 includes word line WL2 that is also connected to memory elements for the same 72 local bit lines LBL1, LBL2, . . . LBL72. In this arrangement, word line comb 800 is on one side of the memory array and word line comb 802 is on the opposite side of the memory array such that the word line fingers from comb 800 are interleaved with the word line fingers of word line comb 802. To make it easier to read, FIG. 13 is created such that word line combs 800, 804, and their word line fingers appear as dotted lines to show that they are from the right side of the memory array while combs 802, 806 are solid lines to show that they are from the left side of the memory array. In this arrangement, each memory element connected to a word line of word line comb 802 for the block being depicted will have a corresponding memory element connected to a word line for word comb 800 that connects to the same local bit line. For example, memory element 810 (connected to WL2) and memory element 812 (connected to WL1) are both connected to LBL1. Therefore, the system has to be operated such that if LBL1 is selected, only appropriate memory element 810 or 812 should be selected. Note that the local bit lines are connected to the appropriate global bit lines by the vertical select devices 504 (described above) that are above the substrate. In other embodiments, the word line comb structure can be used without using the vertical select devices. For example, the word line comb structures can be used with select devices that are implemented in the substrate.

FIG. 14 is a top view of one layer of the memory array depicting part of two word line combs 840 and 842. As described above, each word line comb has word line fingers on two sides of its spine. FIG. 14 only shows the word line fingers on one side of each spine (with stubs being depicted for the word line fingers on the other side of the spine). For example, word line comb 840 includes word line fingers 840 a, 840 b, 840 c, 840 d, 840 e, 840 f, 840 g and 840 h. Word line comb 842 includes word line fingers 842 a, 842 b, 842 c, 842 d, 842 e, 842 f, 842 g and 842 h. Between adjacent word line fingers from word line combs 840 and 842 (which are interleaved as describe above), are vertical bit lines 850 (note that only a subset of vertical bit lines are labeled with reference number 850 to make the drawing easy to read). At the edge of the word line comb, the row of vertical bit lines is shared with an adjacent word line comb. Between each vertical bit line and each word line finger is a memory element. To make the drawing easy to read, memory elements are only depicted for local bit line 852.

Because two word line comb structures are interleaved and share local bit lines, biasing memory elements connected to one of the word line combs (and not the other) will have an effect on the other word line comb. Biasing the vertical bit lines will have an effect on all memory element (for any word line comb) connected to those bit lines, even though the respective word line combs are not biased. Biasing a word line comb will bias all 16 (or other number of) word line fingers that are part of that word line comb. However, it is typically desired to only program or read from memory elements connected to one word line finger of the comb.

FIG. 15A is a flow chart describing one embodiment for programming memory elements. The process of FIG. 15A can be performed as part of a SET process or as part of a RESET process. In Step 850, all word lines are driven to a common signal of ½VPP. In general ½ Vpp represents the intermediate unselected word line voltage and is not necessarily exactly half the programming voltage Vpp. Due to IR drops and other particulars of each embodiment the intermediate unselected biases can be adjusted higher or lower than half the programming voltage and may range from ¼ to ¾ of the Vpp. In one embodiment, VPP is the largest voltage used on the integrated circuit for the memory array. One example of VPP is 4 volts; however, other values can also be used. In step 852, the local bit lines are all floated; therefore, they will drift to or near ½VPP. In step 854, ½VPP (e.g., an unselected voltage) is applied to all global bit lines. In step 856, one or more data dependent signals are applied to the global bit lines; for example, VPP is applied to only the selected global bit lines. In step 858, the vertical select devices discussed above are turned on in order to connect the selected local bit lines to the selected global bit lines. In step 860, selected local bit lines will rise to or toward VPP. In step 862, the selected word line comb is pulled down to ground. In some embodiments more than one word line comb can be pulled down to ground. In other embodiments, only one word line comb can be selected at a time.

FIG. 15B is a flow chart describing other embodiments for programming memory elements. The process of FIG. 15B is similar to the process of FIG. 15A, except that the voltage differential experienced by the programmed memory elements has a reverse polarity. Therefore, if the process of FIG. 15A is used to SET the memory element, then the process of 15B can be can be used to RESET the memory element. Similarly, if the process of FIG. 15A is used to RESET the memory element then the process of FIG. 15B can be used to SET the memory element. In step 870 of FIG. 15B, all word lines are driven to a common signal of ½VPP. In step 872, all local bit lines are floated and they will therefore drift to at or near ½VPP. In step 874, ½VPP is applied to the all global bit lines. In step 876, one or more data dependent signals are applied to the global bit lines; for example, the selected global bit lines are pulled down to ground. In step 878, the vertical select devices are turned on to connect the selected local bit lines to the selected global bit lines. In step 880, the selected local bit lines are pulled down to or toward ground in response to being connected to the global bit lines. At step 882, VPP is then applied to the selected word line comb (or multiple word line combs in some embodiments) in order to create the appropriate differential to cause the programming operation to be performed.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart describing one embodiment of a process for reading memory elements. In step 940, all word lines are driven to a common signal of Vread. In one embodiment Vread is equal to 2 volts; however, other values can also be used. In step 942, the local bit lines are floated; therefore, they will drift to or near Vread. Some floating local bit lines will drift to a voltage just under Vread if they are connected to a memory element in the low resistance state. In step 944, the global bit lines are charged to one or more signals; for example, the global bit lines are charged to Vread. In step 946, the selected word line comb (or in some embodiments multiple word line combs) are pulled down to ground. In step 948 the appropriate vertical select devices are turned on in order to connect the appropriate selected local bit lines to the selected global bit lines. In step 950, current through the selected memory element flows from the selected bit line, from the vertical select device, from the associated global bit line, through a current conveyor clamp device, and ultimately from a sense node in the associated sense amplifier. In step 952, the sense amplifier will sense the current and determine the state of the memory element.

Looking back at FIG. 10, memory element 540 is identified using a dashed box. FIG. 17 depicts a close-up cross sectional view of memory element 540, including a portion of the material comprising the bit line 530, reversible resistance switching material 532 and a portion of the material comprising the word line 536. The portion of the material comprising the bit line 530 and the portion of the material comprising the word line 536 act as electrodes for memory element 540. In one embodiment, reversible resistance switching material 532 comprises a metal oxide material. As described above, other types of materials can also be used. Table 1 provides some examples (but not an exhaustive list) of materials that can be used for the memory elements.

TABLE 1 Electrode Reversible Resistance Electrode (Bit Line side) Switching Material (Word Line side) 20 nm n + Si 3 nm (or less) AlOx 5-10 nm TiN 10 nm n + Si 3 nm AlOx 5-10 nm TiN 20 nm n + Si 3 nm AlOx 5-10 nm TiN 20 nm n + Si 2 nm AlOx 5-10 nm TiN 20 nm n + Si 2 nm HfOx 5-10 nm n + Si 20 nm n + Si 3 nm HSiON 5-10 nm TiN 8 nm n + Si 3 nm HSiON 5-10 nm TiN 20 nm n + Si 3 nm TaOx 5-10 nm TiN 20 nm n + Si 3 nm ZrOx 5-10 nm TiN 20 nm n + Si 3 nm HfOx 5-10 nm TiN

In one set of example implementations, (1) 20 nm n+Si, 3 nm HfOx, 5-10 nm TiN; and (2) 20 nm n+Si, 2 nm AlOx, 5-10 nm TiN are preferred sets of materials. Thin switching materials layers are less robust to the current surges and high fields needed to form the switching material. Nevertheless, the switching material thickness in many embodiments of this invention are reduced below 5 nm and preferably below 3 nm when in combination with a cathode electrode material with a low electron injection energy barrier to the switching material. Material choices are envisioned where the thickness of the switching material is reduced from typical values to be less than 3 nm and the cathode electrode material for forming has an energy barrier less than 1 eV to the switching material. Without being bound by any particular theory, the beneficial effect can be significant because both the material thickness reduction and the electron injection energy barrier reduction reduce the energy released in the forming event by electrons being injected into the switching material. Higher endurance and retention memory element are achieved.

Other buffer and barrier layers as required for processing and cell reliability can be added in some embodiments. For example, there may be a nm scale Titanium Oxide layer above or below the TiN layers. These buffer and barrier layers may be off ideal stoichoimetry.

The thicknesses are examples but various embodiments may be higher or lower. Highly defected metal oxide such as HfSiON, AlON, or AL doped HfOx are desirable in some embodiments for lower voltage operation and highest data retention memory cells.

Even with the same structure, the process condition such as annealing temperature and time can make a difference. In the example of 20 nm n+Si/3 nm HfO2/10 nm n+ Si, the annealing condition after HfOx deposition should be at lower temperature and longer time (e.g., ˜540 C for 1 hour). The device after this annealing behaves differently than previous standard 750 C 60s RTA.

As described above, memory element 540 may be reversibly switched between two or more states. For example, the reversible resistance material 532 may be in an initial high resistance state upon fabrication that is switchable to a low resistance state upon application of a first voltage and/or current. Application of a second voltage and/or current may return the reversible resistivity-switching material to a high resistance state. FIG. 18 is a graph of voltage versus current for one example embodiment of a metal oxide reversible resistance-switching memory element. Line 1720 represents the I-V characteristics of the reversible resistance-switching memory element when in the high resistance state (ROFF). Line 1722 represents the I-V characteristics of the reversible resistance-switching memory element when in the low resistance state (RON). Line 1721 represents the I-V characteristics of a fresh reversible resistance-switching memory element before forming.

To determine which state the reversible resistance-switching memory element is in, a voltage is applied and the resulting current is measured. A higher measured current indicates that the reversible resistance-switching memory element is in the low resistance state. A lower measured current indicates that the memory element is in the high resistance state. Note that other variations of a memory element having different I-V characteristics can also be used with the technology herein. In bipolar switching mode of operation suitable for many materials, the values of Vset and Vreset are opposite in polarity.

Before forming, a reversible resistance-switching memory element is considered fresh. If the forming voltage Vf and sufficient current is applied to a fresh reversible resistance-switching memory element, the memory element will be formed and will go into a low resistance condition (which, in some embodiments coincides with the low resistance state). Line 1723 shows the behavior when Vf is applied. The voltage will remain somewhat constant and the current will increase. At some point, the reversible resistance-switching memory element will be in the low resistance condition/state and the device behavior will be based on line 1722 or something like line 1722.

While in the high low resistance state (see line 1720), if the voltage Vset and sufficient current is applied, the memory element will be SET to the low resistance state. Line 1724 shows the behavior when Vset is applied. The voltage will remain somewhat constant and the current will increase. At some point, the reversible resistance-switching memory element will be SET to the low resistance state and the device behavior will be based on line 1722.

While in the low resistance state (see line 1722), if the voltage Vreset and sufficient current is applied, the memory element will be RESET to the high resistance state. Line 1726 shows the behavior when Vreset is applied. At some point, the memory element will be RESET and the device behavior will be based on line 1720. Note that in one embodiment, the magnitude of the forming voltage Vf may be greater than the magnitude of Vset, and the magnitude of Vset may be greater than the magnitude of Vreset.

In one embodiment, Vset is approximately 3.5 volts, Vreset is approximately −2 volts, Iset_limit is approximately 5 uA and the Ireset current could be as high as 30 uA.

Looking back at FIG. 17, the thickness of the reversible resistance material 532 is chosen so that the fresh memory element (before a FORMING process) is in range of 10 to 1000 times more resistive than desired high resistance state (after a RESET operation). In one embodiment, the thickness range is 3 nm or less; however, other ranges can also be used.

The materials of the memory element 540 (portion of the material comprising the bit line 530, reversible resistance switching material 532 and portion of the material comprising the word line 536) each have a work function (based on the conduction bands of a semi-conducting material or an electron affinity if a metallic material). When designing a memory element, the reversible resistance switching material 532 and the cathode are chosen so that electron injection energy barrier is less than 1 eV by matching work function of the electrode and electron affinity of the reversible resistance switching material 532, by reducing effective work function of the electrode, or by both effects.

In one embodiment, when creating the electrode (e.g., creating the vertical bit line), the silicon material is annealed. The annealing conditions are chosen to reduce trap depth of the reversible resistance switching material 532 to less than 1.0 eV. This is applicable if MeOx bulk conduction is dominated. Proper annealing conditions may also reduce the effective work function. Additionally (and optionally), cathode deposition conditions can be chosen to produce an interface layer between the cathode (e.g., bit line) and the reversible resistance switching material 532 which reduces effective work function of the cathode. Sputtering (e.g., Argon sputtering) can be used to reduce the work function of the electrode.

In some embodiments, the bit line can serve as the cathode and the word line as the anode, while in other embodiments the bit line can serve as the anode and the word line can serve as the cathode.

In one example implementation, the polarity of the FORMING voltage Vf is chosen so that the electrode with the lowest electrode to reversible resistance switching material barrier is chosen as the cathode. That is, the bit line to the reversible resistance switching material has a first electron injection energy barrier and the word line to the reversible resistance switching material has a second electron injection energy barrier. If the first electron injection energy barrier is less than the second electron injection energy barrier, then the bit line will be used as the cathode and the word line will be used as the anode. To achieve this, a positive forming voltage Vf is applied to the word line and ground is applied to the bit line. Alternatively, a higher positive voltage is applied to the word line, as compared to the bit line, such the difference in potential between the word line and the bit line is the forming voltage Vf. The bit line would be at a lower positive voltage potential than the word line. When the bit line serves as the cathode, the direction of the electric field is from the word line to the bit line (see arrow 1700 of FIG. 17) and the direction of electron injection into the reversible resistance switching material 532 is from the bit line to the word line (see arrow 1702 of FIG. 17). The cathode serves to emit electrons.

If the second electron injection energy barrier is less than the first electron injection energy barrier, then the word line will be used as the cathode and the bit line will be used as the anode. To achieve this, the positive forming voltage Vf is applied to the bit line and ground is applied to the word line. Alternatively, a higher positive voltage is applied to the bit line, as compared to the word line, such the difference in potential between the bit line and the word line is the forming voltage Vf. The word line would be at a lower voltage potential than the bit line.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart describing one embodiment of a process for FORMING. In step 1802, the forming voltage Vf is applied as a pulse to the memory element via the appropriate word line and bit line. The polarity of the voltage is such that the electrode with the lower electron injection energy barrier is the cathode, as described above. In one example, the pulse is at 4.7 volts for approximately 2 micro seconds. In step 1804, a read voltage is applied to the memory element. In step 1806, the current through the memory element (and through the bit line) in response to the read voltage is sensed. If the current sensed in step 1806 is a lower current, indicating that the memory element is still in a high resistance condition (see step 1808), then the process loops back to step 1802 and another pulse is applied. If the current sensed in step 1806 is a higher current, indicating that the memory element is in the low resistance state (see step 1808), then FORMING is complete (step 1810). After FORMING is compete, the memory element can be operated by performing cycles of RESETs and SETS, as well as read processes.

In one embodiment, the system will use an on-chip resistor (or equivalent) serially connected with the memory element, with a resistance in range 100 K ohm to 500 K ohm, during FORMING to limit the maximum current across the reversible resistance switching material and, therefore, produce a formed state (low resistance) in 100M ohm to 10 G ohm. One option for an effective resistance serially connected to the memory element is to use an on-chip transistor connected with the memory at its drain to control maximum current in the range of 10 nA to 1 uA during FORMING to produce the formed low resistance state in 100M ohm to 10 G ohm. For example, the vertical select devices can be used to limit the current in/through the vertical bit lines during the FORMING process. As described above, the select devices are transistors, such as thin film transistors (as well as other types of transistors). These transistors have threshold voltages such that when a high enough voltage is applied to the gate, the transistors turn on. An “ON” voltage is defined as the gate voltage used to sufficiently turn on the transistor such that the transistor allows the maximum current to flow in its channel without breaking the transistor. An “OFF” voltage is defined as the gate voltage for which no current (or a sufficiently small amount of current to effectively be considered no current) flows in the channel of the transistor. An “INTERMEDIATE” voltage is defined as a gate voltage greater than the OFF voltage and less than the ON voltage such that a limited current flows in the channel of the transistors. For example, the “INTERMEDIATE” voltage may only allow 50% (or 30%, 60% or other fraction) of the maximum current to flow in the channel of the transistor/switch. Since the channel of the transistor is in series with the vertical bit line, limiting the current in the channel of the transistor comprising the select device will limit the current through the connected bit line. In one embodiment, the bit line current during forming is limited to a range of 10 nano amps to 1 micro amp.

In one example, the SET voltage Vset is the same polarity as the FORMING voltage Vf, and the RESET voltage Vreset is the opposite polarity as the FORMING voltage Vf. FIGS. 15A and 15B describe the SET and RESET processes. In one example, the bit line electron injection energy barrier is lower than the word line electron injection energy barrier, such that the bit line serves as the cathode; therefore, the FORMING voltage is applied with a positive (or higher) potential at the word line, the process of FIG. 15B is used to SET and the process of FIG. 15A is used to RESET.

In another example, the word line electron injection energy barrier is lower than the bit line electron injection energy barrier, such that the word line serves as the cathode; therefore, the FORMING voltage is applied with a positive (or higher) potential at the bit line, the process of FIG. 15A is used to SET and the process of FIG. 15B is used to RESET.

A memory cell with thinner MeOx layer and lower effective electron injection energy barrier is formed in the direction of polarity with lower electron injection energy barrier. Therefore, it reduces forming voltage and surge current. A current limit, such as the select device described above, can further protect the memory element to operate in the high resistance state (1M ohm to 1000M ohm) in both SET and RESET operation. This ensures that memory element takes most of the voltage applied. Therefore, a lower voltage is required from the power source, resulting in less operational current. In this way, the operational voltage and current are reduced.

Looking back at FIG. 10, an architecture is depicted that includes shared gates for the vertical select devices 504, meaning that that two adjacent vertical select devices 504 share the same gate region. This allows the vertical select devices to be closer together. Sometimes, under some conditions, using a shared gate could cause an unselected bit line to be connected to the global bit line because sending a selection signal to a shared gate could cause both vertical select devices 504 that include that gate to turn on (or partially on), which could allow an unselected memory cell to be programmed. To allow a memory cell to be unambiguously selected, it is proposed to use a “triple comb” architecture, which includes interleaving locations for three word line combs (or other types of groups of word lines). In this manner, each group of three neighboring word line locations on a common level of the three dimensional structure are electrically isolated from each other.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a memory structure implementing a triple comb architecture. The memory structure of FIG. 20 is a continuous mesh array of memory elements because there are memory elements connected to both sides of the bit lines and memory elements connected to both sides of the word lines. The structure of the design depicted in Figure is similar to the design of FIG. 10, but adding the triple comb technology. For example, the Pillar Select Layer, Metal Layers and CMOS layers of FIG. 20 are the same (or similar) as depicted in FIG. 10 and, therefore, the same reference numbers are used to indicate the same structure. At the bottom of FIG. 20, the CMOS substrate is depicted. Implemented on the top surface of the CMOS structure are various metal lines including ML-0, ML-1, and ML-2. Line 526 of ML-2 serves as a respective global bit line (GBL). The Pillar Select Layer includes two oxide layers 520 with a gate material layer 522 sandwiched there between. The oxide layers 520 can be SiO₂. The metal line ML-2 526 serving as a global bit line GBL can be implemented of any suitable material, including Tungsten, or Tungsten on a Titanium Nitride adhesion layer or a sandwich of n+ polysilicon on Tungsten on Titanium Nitride adhesion layer. Gate material 522 can be polysilicon, Titanium Nitride, Tantalum Nitride, Nickel Silicide or any other suitable material. Gate material 522 implements the row select lines SG_(x) (e.g. SG₁, SG₂, . . . of FIG. 1), which are labeled in FIG. 10 as row select lines 580, 582, 584, 586, 588 and 590.

The memory layer includes a set of vertical bit lines 530 (530 a, 530 b, 530 c, 530 d, 530 e). In one embodiment, the vertical bit lines comprise N+ polysilicon. Interspersed between the vertical bit lines 530 are alternating oxide layers 534 and word line layers (e.g., 2002, 2004, 2006, 2012,2014, 2016, 2022, 2024, 2026, 2032, 2034, 2036). In one embodiment, the word lines are made from TiN. Between the vertical bit lines 530 and the stacks of alternating oxide layers 536 and word line layers are vertical layers of reversible resistance switching material 532. In one embodiment the reversible resistance switching material is made of Hafnium Oxide HfO₂. However, other materials (as described above) can also be used. Box 2000 depicts one example memory element which includes the reversible resistance switching material 532 sandwiched between a word line 2034 and vertical bit line 530 a. The memory elements are positioned above, and not in, the substrate. Directly below each vertical bit line 530 a, 530 b, 530 c, 530 d, 530 e are the vertical select devices 504 a, 504 b, 504 c, 504 d, 504 e, each of which comprises (in one example embodiment) a n+/p−/n+ TFT. Each of the vertical select devices 504 a, 504 b, 504 c, 504 d, 504 e have oxide layers 505 on each side. FIG. 20 also shows an n+ polysilicon layer 524. As can be seen, the npn TFT of vertical select devices 504 a, 504 b, 504 c, 504 d, 504 e can be used to connect the global bit line GBL (layer 526) with any of the vertical bit lines 530 a, 530 b, 530 c, 530 d, 530 e.

FIG. 20 shows six row select lines (SG_(x)) 580, 582, 584, 586, 588 and 590 in the gate material layer 522, each underneath a stack of multiple word lines. As can be seen, each of the row select lines 580, 582, 584, 586, 588 and 590 is positioned between two vertical select devices 504 a, 504 b, 504 c, 504 d, 504 e, above and not in the substrate. Therefore each row select line can serve as the gate signal to either of the two neighboring vertical select devices 504; therefore, the row select lines serve as shared gates. This allows the vertical select devices to be closer together. For example, row select line 584 serves as a gate for vertical select device 504 b and vertical select device 504 c.

FIG. 20 shows four levels 2060, 2062, 2064 and 206 of memory cells in the monolithic three dimensional memory array; however, other embodiments can include more or less than three levels. All of the depicted memory cells are positioned above and not in the substrate, and each memory cell of the plurality is connected to one of the bit lines and one of the word lines. On each level, three word lines combs are interleaved so that a set of three consecutive word lines are in different word line combs. For example, on level 2060, three word lines combs are depicted: 2002, 2004 and 2006. Looking from right to left, the first word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2002, the second word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2004, the third word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2006, the fourth word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2002, the fifth word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2004, and the sixth word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2006. Looking from right to left, the first word line depicted on level 2062 is on word line comb 2012, the second word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2014, the third word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2016, the fourth word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2012, the fifth word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2014, and the sixth word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2016. Looking from right to left, the first word line depicted on level 2064 is on word line comb 2022, the second word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2024, the third word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2026, the fourth word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2022, the fifth word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2024, and the sixth word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2026. Looking from right to left, the first word line depicted on level 2066 is on word line comb 2032, the second word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2034, the third word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2036, the fourth word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2032, the fifth word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2034, and the sixth word line depicted on level 2060 is on word line comb 2036.

Since three neighboring word lines on a common level of the three dimensional structure are part of three different word line combs that are interleaved but not connected, each group of three neighboring word lines on that common level of the three dimensional structure are electrically isolated from each other.

The above architecture allows for unambiguous selection of memory cells. For example, asserting a selection signal (e.g., high voltage) on row select line 584 can turn on vertical select device 504 b and vertical select device 504 c. Therefore, vertical bit lines 530 b and 530 c will both be connected to global bit line 526. If a programming signals (selected bit line voltage and selected word line voltage) are applied to global bit line 526 and word line comb 2034, and unselected word line voltages are applied to all other word line combs, then only memory cell 2000 will receive programming. Although vertical bit line 530 c is receiving the programming signal from global bit line 526, none of the word line combs adjacent to vertical bit line 530 c receive the appropriate programming signal; therefore, none of the memory cells connected to vertical bit line 530 c will receive programming.

In some embodiments, each of the three interleaved word line combs comprise multiple word lines connected together.

In other embodiments, one of the interleaved word line combs can be replaced by empty space, dielectric material or other material resulting in each group of three neighboring word line locations on a common level of the three dimensional structure being electrically isolated from each other but word lines (and word line combs) only occupying two of the three neighboring word line locations. This embodiment is depicted in FIG. 21, which a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a memory structure implementing a triple comb architecture. The memory structure of FIG. 21 is similar to the structure of FIG. 20, except that one of the three interleaved word line combs is removed. For example, level 2060 does not include word line comb 2006. Instead, the locations for word line comb 2006 have been replaced by dielectric material 2040. However, the locations for word line comb 2006 that have been replaced by dielectric material 2040 are still electrically isolated from word line combs 2002 and 2004 (as well as the locations for those word line combs).

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a memory structure implementing a triple comb architecture. The memory structure of FIG. 22 is a continuous mesh array of memory elements because there are memory elements connected to both sides of the bit lines and memory elements connected to both sides of the word lines. The Memory Layer of FIG. 22 is the same as in FIG. 20, including the implementation of the interleaving of three word line combs at a given level of the Memory Layer. However, the Pillar Select Layer of the structure of FIG. 22 is different than the structure of FIG. 20.

The Pillar Select Layer includes the vertical select devices 3030, 3032, 3034, 3036 and 3038, including their respective gates 3010, 3012, 3014, 3016, 3018 and 3020. The material forming the gates 3010, 3012, 3014, 3016, 3018 and 3020 can be polysilicon, Titanium Nitride, Tantalum Nitride, Nickel Silicide or any other suitable material. The gates 3010, 3012, 3014, 3016, 3018 and 3020 implement the row select lines SG_(x) (e.g. SG₁, SG₂, . . . of FIG. 1).

Directly below each vertical bit line 530 a-e are the vertical select devices 3030, 3032, 3034, 3036 and 3038. Each of the vertically oriented select devices comprises (in one example embodiment) a n+/p−/n+ TFT (also referred to as a vertical thin film transistor, vertical TFT or VTFT). Each of the vertical select devices 3030, 3032, 3034, 3036 and 3038 has oxide layers 3005 on each side. FIG. 22 also shows an n+ polysilicon layer 3001. As can be seen, the npn TFT of vertically oriented select devices can be used to connect the global bit line GBL (layer 3000) with any of the vertical bit lines 530 a, 530 b, 530 c, 530 d and 530 e.

FIG. 22 shows six row select lines (SG_(x)) which are also the gates 3010, 3012, 3014, 3016, 3018 and 3020, each underneath a stack of multiple word lines. The gates/row select lines 3010, 3012, 3014, 3016, 3018 and 3020 are positioned underneath and between the vertical bit lines. However, the gates/row select lines 3010, 3012, 3014, 3016, 3018 and 3020 are above and not in the substrate. FIG. 22 also shows oxide regions 3002.

One aspect of the vertically oriented select devices 3030, 3032, 3034, 3036 and 3038 incorporated to the base portion of each bit line pillar is that two adjacent vertically oriented select devices 3030, 3032, 3034, 3036 and 3038 share the same gate region. This allows the vertically oriented select devices to be closer together. Note that the gates/row select lines 3010, 3012, 3014, 3016, 3018 and 3020 are not all at the same vertical position. Rather, they are staggered with gates/row select lines 3010, 3014, and 3018 being offset and higher than gates/row select lines 3012, 3016, and 3020. By the term “higher” meant that the gates/row select lines 3010, 3014, and 3018 are further in distance from the substrate than gates/row select lines 3012, 3016, and 3020.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a memory structure implementing a triple comb architecture. The memory structure of FIG. 23 is similar to the structure of FIG. 22, except that one of the three interleaved word line combs is removed. For example, level 2060 does not include word line comb 2006. Instead, the locations for word line comb 2006 have been replaced by dielectric material 2040. However, the locations for word line comb 2006 that have been replaced by dielectric material 2040 are still electrically isolated from word line combs 2002 and 2004 (as well as the locations for those word line combs). Thus, the structure of FIG. 23 has the same Pillar Select Layer, Metal Layers and CMOS substrate as FIG. 22 and the same Memory Layer as FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a top view of one layer of the memory array depicting part of three word line combs 3200, 3202 and 3204. For example, word line comb 3200 of FIG. 24 can correlate to word line com 2006 of FIG. 20; word line comb 3202 of FIG. 24 can correlate to word line comb 2004 of FIG. 20; word line comb 3204 of FIG. 24 can correlate to word line com 2002 of FIG. 20. Word line comb 3200 includes word lines (or word line fingers) 3200 a, 3200 b, 3200 c, 3200 d and 3200 e; word line comb 3202 includes word lines 3202 a, 3202 b, 3202 c, 3202 d and 3202 e; and word line comb 3204 includes word lines 3204 a, 3204 b, 3204 c, 3204 d and 3204 e. As can be seen from the drawing, word line combs 3200, 3202 and 3204 are interleaved (e.g., 3200, 3202, 3204, 3200, 3202, 3204, 3200, 3202, 3204, . . . ) so that a set of three consecutive word lines are in different word line combs (or other groups of connected word lines) and the different word line combs each have multiple word lines on the common level of the three dimensional memory array (or other structure). Although FIG. 24 shows the word line combs with five word lines, more or less than five word lines can be used. Between the word lines of interleaved word line combs are vertical bit lines 3210, such that multiple vertical bit lines are positioned between the neighboring word lines.

In the embodiment of FIG. 24, the word lines (3204 a, 3204 b, 3204 c, 3204 d and 3204 e) of word line comb 3204 are not connected to each other. Rather, word lines 3204 a, 3204 b, 3204 c, 3204 d and 3204 e are floating. In this embodiment, the memory cells connected to the floating word lines may not be usable. This would result in a loss of some capacity; however, such loss in capacity may be acceptable because the size of the memory is reduced based on using the shared gate and triple comb architecture.

FIG. 25 is a top view of one layer of another embodiment of a memory array depicting part of two word line combs 3300 and 3202. The locations 3306 for the third word line comb are empty. The embodiment of FIG. 25 corresponds to the embodiments of FIGS. 21 and 23. For example, word line comb 3300 of FIG. 25 can correlate to word line comb 2002 of FIG. 21, and word line comb 3302 of FIG. 25 can correlate to word line comb 2004 of FIG. 21. Word line comb 3300 includes word lines (or word line fingers) 3300 a, 3300 b, 3300 c, 3300 d and 3300 e; and word line comb 3302 includes word lines 3302 a, 3302 b, 3302 c, 3302 d and 3302 e. As can be seen from the drawing, word line combs 3300 and 3302, as well as spaces 3306 are interleaved so consecutive two word lines and a word line space are electrically isolated from each other (as they are not connected).

FIG. 26 is a top view of one layer of another embodiment of the memory array depicting part of three word line combs 3400, 3402 and 3404. For example, word line comb 3400 of FIG. 26 can correlate to word line comb 2006 of FIG. 20; word line comb 3402 of FIG. 26 can correlate to word line comb 2004 of FIG. 20; word line comb 3404 of FIG. 26 can correlate to word line com 2002 of FIG. 20. Alternatively, word line comb 3400 of FIG. 26 can correlate to word line com 2026 of FIG. 20; word line comb 3402 of FIG. 26 can correlate to word line comb 2024 of FIG. 20; word line comb 3404 of FIG. 26 can correlate to word line com 2022 of FIG. 20. Word line comb 3400 includes word lines (or word line fingers) 3400 a, 3400 b, 3400 c, 3400 d and 3400 e; word line comb 3402 includes word lines 3402 a, 3402 b, 3402 c, 3402 d and 3402 e; and word line comb 3404 includes word lines 3404 a, 3404 b, 3404 c, 3404 d and 3404 e. As can be seen from the drawing, word line combs 3400, 3402 and 3404 are interleaved (e.g., 3400, 3402, 3404, 3400, 3402, 3404, 3400, 3402, 3404, . . . ) so that a set of three consecutive word lines are in different word line combs (or other groups of connected word lines) and the different word line combs each have multiple word lines on the common level of the three dimensional memory array (or other structure). Also, each group of three neighboring word lines on the same level of the three dimensional structure are electrically isolated from each other, since they are not connected. Between the word lines of interleaved word line combs are vertical bit lines 3410, such that multiple vertical bit lines are positioned between the neighboring word lines.

In the embodiment of FIG. 26, the word lines (3404 a, 3404 b, 3404 c, 3404 d and 3404 e) of word line comb 3404 are connected to each other. In one example embodiment, the word lines of the word line comb 3404 are connected via a metal layer above the memory array. This may require added space between array blocks to account for added interconnect to the word line drivers below the memory array. FIG. 26 shows metal lines 3520 and 3432 for connected word lines. In one embodiment, one metal line of metal lines 3432 and 3520 will connect all of the word lines for a single word line comb (which would not be in the shape of a comb). Other arrangements for metal lines and connections can also be used.

FIG. 27 depicts connections from word lines on eight levels of the memory array to metal lines above the memory array. Metal lines 3520 of FIG. 26 correspond to metal lines 3502-0, 3502-1, 3502-2, 3502-3, 3502-4, 3502-5, 3502-6, and 3502-7. FIG. 26 also shows word lines 3506-0, 3506-1, 3506-2, 3506-3, 3506-4, 3506-5, 3506-6 and 3506-7 that are part of word line combs. For example, word line 3506-5 of FIG. 27 corresponds to word line 3504 e of FIG. 26. In one example embodiment, word line 3506-0 is at a bottom level of the memory array, word line 3506-1 is positioned in the next layer up, word line 3506-2 is positioned in the next layer up, word line 3506-3 is positioned in the next layer up, word line 3506-4 is positioned in the next layer up, word line 3506-5 is positioned in the next layer up, word line 3506-6 is positioned in the next layer up, and 3506-7 is the top layer of the memory array.

FIG. 27 also shows metal connections between the word lines and the metal lines above the memory array. For example, connection 3504-0 couples word line 3506-0 to metal line 3502-0; connection 3504-1 couples word line 3506-1 to metal line 3502-1; connection 3504-2 couples word line 3506-2 to metal line 3502-2; connection 3504-3 couples word line 3506-3 to metal line 3502-3; connection 3504-4 couples word line 3506-4 to metal line 3502-4; connection 3504-5 couples word line 3506-5 to metal line 3502-5; connection 3504-6 couples word line 3506-6 to metal line 3502-6; and connection 3504-7 couples word line 3506-7 to metal line 3502-7. As there can be multiple word line combs on each level of the memory array, the components depicted in FIG. 27 may be replicated multiple times in the device.

The triple comb architecture described above allows for a compact circuit design (which results in a smaller die size or greater memory capacity) while still allowing for unambiguous selection of memory cells.

In one embodiment of operation according to the processes of FIGS. 15A and 15B, the programming may comprise:

-   -   applying a selected word line signal to a first group of         connected word lines (e.g., step 862 of FIG. 15A and step 882 of         FIG. 15B);     -   applying a selected bit line signal to a first set of vertical         bit lines (steps 856, 858 and 860 of FIG. 15A and steps 876, 878         and 880 of FIG. 15B);     -   applying an unselected word line signal to a second group of         connected word lines, the second group of connected word lines         and a third group of word lines are connected to memory cells in         the three dimensional structure (e.g., step 850 of FIG. 15A and         step 870 of FIG. 15B);     -   applying an unselected bit line signal to unselected vertical         bit lines (e.g., steps 852 & 854 of FIG. 15A and steps 872 & 874         of FIG. 15B);     -   programming one or more of the plurality of memory cells based         on the selected word line signal and the selected bit line         signal (e.g. the result from step 862 of FIG. 15A and step 882         of FIG. 15B).

One embodiment of a non-volatile storage device comprises: a substrate; a plurality of memory cells arranged in a three dimensional structure positioned above and not in the substrate; a plurality of vertical bit lines; a plurality of word lines, each group of three neighboring word lines on a common level of the three dimensional structure are electrically isolated from each other and at least a subset of the three neighboring word lines of each group are connected to other word lines, each memory cell of the plurality is connected to one of the bit lines and one of the word lines.

One alternative further comprises a plurality of vertical select devices connected to the vertical bit lines, the vertical select devices comprise a transistor that includes a gate electrode that is shared by two neighboring vertical select devices. One alternative further comprises a set of global bit lines, the vertical select devices are positioned above and not in the substrate, the vertical select devices selectively connect the vertical bit lines to the global bit lines. In one alternative, the three neighboring word lines are part of three different groups of connected word lines that are interleaved on the common level of the three dimensional structure, the three different groups of connected word lines each have multiple connected word lines on the common level of the three dimensional structure. One alternative further comprises a plurality of word line drivers in the substrate and below the plurality of the memory cells, each group of connected word is in communication with one of the word line drivers. One alternative further comprises top metal lines above the memory cells, one of the three neighboring word lines is part of a group of connected word lines that are connected to a word line driver via at least one of the top metal lines. In one alternative, one word line of each group of three neighboring word lines is floating. In one alternative, each of the groups of three neighboring word lines has a first word line, a second word line and a third line; multiple vertical bit lines are positioned between the first word line and the second word line; and multiple vertical bit lines are positioned between the second word line and the third word line. In one alternative, the memory cells in combination with the vertical bit lines and the word lines form a continuous mesh. In one alternative, the memory cells are two terminal memory cells. In one alternative, the memory cells are reversible resistance-switching memory cells. In one alternative, the memory cells are arranged in a monolithic three dimensional memory array.

One embodiment of a method of performing a memory operation on a non-volatile storage system comprises: applying a selected word line signal to a first group of connected word lines; applying a selected bit line signal to a first set of vertical bit lines, the first group of connected word lines and the first set of vertical bit lines are connected to a plurality of memory cells in a three dimensional structure positioned above and not in a substrate; applying an unselected word line signal to a second group of connected word lines, the second group of connected word lines and a third group of word lines are connected to memory cells in the three dimensional structure; and programming one or more of the plurality of memory cells based on the selected word line signal and the selected bit line signal; wherein word lines of the first group of connected word lines, the second group of connected word lines and the third group of word lines are interleaved so that a set of three consecutive word lines are in different groups of word lines and are electrically isolated from each other.

One embodiment of a non-volatile storage system, comprises: a substrate; a plurality of memory cells arranged in a three dimensional structure positioned above and not in the substrate; a plurality of word lines connected to the memory cells, the word lines form multiple groups of connected word lines, on a common level of the three dimensional structure at least three groups of connected word lines are interleaved so that a set of three consecutive word lines are in different groups of connected word lines and the different groups of connected word lines each have multiple connected word lines on the common level of the three dimensional structure; a plurality of word line drivers, with at least one word line driver connected to each group of connected word lines; a plurality of global bit lines; a plurality of vertical bit lines connected to the memory cells; a plurality of vertical select devices that are above, but not in the substrate, and that are connected to the vertical bit lines and the global bit lines, when the vertical select devices are actuated the vertical bit lines are in communication with the global bit lines, the vertical select devices comprise a transistor that includes a gate electrode that is shared by two neighboring vertical select devices.

One embodiment of a non-volatile storage device comprises: a substrate; a plurality of memory cells arranged in a three dimensional structure positioned above and not in the substrate; a plurality of vertical bit lines connected to the memory cells; a plurality of word line locations, each group of three neighboring word line locations on a common level of the three dimensional structure are electrically isolated from each other, word lines in at least a subset of the word line locations on the common level of the three dimensional structure are arranged as multiple groups of connected word lines connected to memory cells.

The foregoing detailed description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the disclosed technology and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the technology in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope be defined by the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-volatile storage device, comprising: a substrate; a plurality of memory cells arranged in a three dimensional structure positioned above and not in the substrate; a plurality of vertical bit lines; a plurality of word lines arranged in groups of connected word lines, three adjacent word lines on a common level of the three dimensional structure are electrically isolated from each other including that they are not directly connected to each other and at least a subset of the three adjacent word lines are directly connected to different groups of connected word lines such that a word line in one group of connected word lines is positioned between multiple word lines of another group of connected word lines, each memory cell of the plurality is connected to one of the bit lines and one of the word lines.
 2. The non-volatile storage device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of vertical select devices connected to the vertical bit lines, the vertical select devices comprise a transistor that includes a gate electrode that is shared by two neighboring vertical select devices.
 3. The non-volatile storage device of claim 2, further comprising: a set of global bit lines, the vertical select devices are positioned above and not in the substrate, the vertical select devices selectively connect the vertical bit lines to the global bit lines.
 4. The non-volatile storage device of claim 1, wherein: the three adjacent word lines are part of three disjoint groups of connected word lines that are interleaved on the common level of the three dimensional structure, the three disjoint groups of connected word lines each have multiple connected word lines on the common level of the three dimensional structure.
 5. The non-volatile storage device of claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of word line drivers in the substrate and below the plurality of the memory cells, each group of connected word lines is in communication with one of the word line drivers.
 6. The non-volatile storage device of claim 4, further comprising: top metal lines above the memory cells, one of the three adjacent word lines is part of word lines directly connected together by a common connection that are connected to a word line driver via at least one of the top metal lines.
 7. The non-volatile storage device of claim 1, wherein: one word line of the three adjacent word lines is floating.
 8. The non-volatile storage device of claim 1, wherein: the three adjacent word lines includes a first word line, a second word line and a third line; multiple vertical bit lines are positioned between the first word line and the second word line; and multiple vertical bit lines are positioned between the second word line and the third word line.
 9. The non-volatile storage device of claim 1, wherein: the memory cells in combination with the vertical bit lines and the word lines form a continuous mesh.
 10. The non-volatile storage device of claim 1, wherein: the memory cells are two terminal memory cells.
 11. The non-volatile storage device of claim 10, wherein: the memory cells are reversible resistance-switching memory cells.
 12. The non-volatile storage device of claim 1, wherein: the memory cells are arranged in a monolithic three dimensional memory array.
 13. A non-volatile storage system, comprising: a substrate; a plurality of memory cells arranged in a three dimensional structure positioned above and not in the substrate; a plurality of word lines connected to the memory cells, the word lines form multiple word line combs, on a common level of the three dimensional structure at least three disjoint word line combs are interleaved so that a set of three consecutive adjacent word lines are in different word line combs and are electrically isolated from each other including that they are not connected to each other, the three disjoint word line combs each have multiple connected word lines on the common level of the three dimensional structure, the three disjoint word line combs are not connected to each other; a plurality of word line drivers; a plurality of global bit lines; a plurality of vertical bit lines connected to the memory cells; a plurality of vertical select devices that are above, but not in the substrate, and that are connected to the vertical bit lines and the global bit lines, when the vertical select devices are actuated the vertical bit lines are in communication with the global bit lines.
 14. The non-volatile storage device of claim 13, wherein: the three dimensional structure is a monolithic three dimensional memory array.
 15. The non-volatile storage device of claim 13, wherein: the memory cells in combination with the vertical bit lines and the word lines form a continuous mesh.
 16. The non-volatile storage device of claim 13, wherein: bit lines are positioned between the word lines of the set of three consecutive adjacent word lines.
 17. A non-volatile storage device, comprising: a substrate; a plurality of memory cells arranged in a three dimensional structure positioned above and not in the substrate; a plurality of vertical bit lines connected to the memory cells; and a plurality of word line locations, each group of three adjacent word line locations on a common level of the three dimensional structure are electrically isolated from each other, at least a subset of the three adjacent word line locations are directly connected to different groups of connected word locations such that a word line location in one group of connected word line locations is positioned between multiple word line locations of another group of connected word line locations.
 18. The non-volatile storage device of claim 17, further comprising: a plurality of vertical select devices connected to the vertical bit lines, the vertical select devices comprise a transistor that includes a gate electrode that is shared by two neighboring vertical select devices.
 19. The non-volatile storage device of claim 18, further comprising: a set of global bit lines, the vertical select devices are positioned above and not in the substrate, the vertical select devices selectively connect the vertical bit lines to the global bit lines.
 20. A non-volatile storage device, comprising: a plurality of memory cells arranged in multiple levels of a three dimensional structure; a plurality of vertical bit lines; and a plurality of word lines including a first group of connected word lines on a common level of the three dimensional structure that are directly connected together by a common connection, a second group of connected word lines on the common level of the three dimensional structure that are directly connected together by a common connection and a third group of word lines on the common level of the three dimensional structure, each memory cell of the plurality of memory cells is connected to one of the bit lines and one of the word lines; word lines of the first group of connected word lines, the second group of connected word lines and the third group of word lines are interleaved on the common level of the three dimensional structure so that a set of three adjacent word lines on the common level of the three dimensional structure are in different groups of the first group, second group and third group and are not directly connected to each other, a word line in one group of connected word lines is positioned between multiple word lines of another group of connected word lines; the first group of connected word lines, the second group of connected word lines and the third group of word lines are disjoint sets of word lines.
 21. The non-volatile storage device of claim 20, further comprising: a substrate, the three dimensional structure is positioned above and not in the substrate.
 22. The non-volatile storage device of claim 21, wherein: the three dimensional structure is a monolithic three dimensional memory array; and the memory cells in combination with the vertical bit lines and the word lines form a continuous mesh. 